











*tfti 






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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

1^ R^?^7 

Sliell\Al..J<o 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Vamnt &ition 

y 

SHAKESPEARE 

A 

MIDSOMMER NIGHTS DREAME 



Facsimile Reprint of the Text of the 
First Folio, 1623 



With Foot-Notes giving every Variant in Spelling and 

Punctuation occurring in the two Quartos of 1600, 

according to the perfect Copies of the Original 

Texts in the Barton Collection, 

Boston Public Library 



WITH introduction AND NOTES 

BY 

HENRY JOHNSON 



J 



^ 



K^a^A^ 



( 'APR 21 1888 Y: ^ 



-f: « • 



BOSTON AND NEW YORK 

HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY 

®Je I!!itier?ii)e Pre?'^, Camiril>0e 

1888 






Copyright, 1888, 
By henry JOHNSON. 

All rights reserved. 



The Riverside Press, Cambridge : 
Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Co. 



Preface. 



I^^^^HE present edition of A Midfommer nights Dreame 
Q^ ^^ has been prepared with a view to assist in putting the 
^^iji^. study of this Shakespearian text on a more perma- 
nent basis than is commonly laid. It gives the original ma- 
terial in full, including every variation in spelling and punctua- 
tion of the two editions of the play published in Shakespeare's 
life-time, from the First Folio text. The latter has been used 
as the principal text for its having been the last which may 
have had the benefit of Shakespeare's manuscript authority. 

While there will always be a place for conjectural emenda- 
tion, the necessity for it is constantly diminishing with every 
advance in the knowledge of Elizabethan English. 

Why should not the study of Shakespeare, at least in uni- 
versities, begin with putting into the student's hands all the 
textual facts ? Of course the student will never cease to need 
more help than the best teacher and all the commentators can 
give. This edition will be useful only if the supposition is 
correct, that teacher and student should be first concerned 
with what Shakespeare wrote, as far as the authoritative orig- 
inal texts enable us to judge. And it seems too much to 
assume that the grounds on which a word or a phrase is gen-, 
erally rejected as not Shakespeare's are either so profound 
or so delicate as to be beyond the judgment of any student. 
Whoever rejects the "Now bent" of I. i. lo must do so on 
other grounds than that it is less beautiful or apt than Rowe's 
emendation, " New-bent." The notes include every variation 
from the texts of Fisher, Roberts, and the Folio which the 
Cambridge, Globe, Clarendon Press, Delius, Rolfe, Hudson, 
and White editions agree in adopting. For the source of 
these changes I am indebted to the Cambridge edition ; I 
have, of course, verified the references whenever it has been 



iv Preface. 

possible for me to do so. In all these editions the spelling 
and punctuation have been modernized throughout. Many 
stage-directions, which were deemed dispensable by the seven- 
teenth-century editors, have been introduced into nearly all 
modern editions. 

It is my agreeable duty to express my cordial thanks to 
Hon. Mellen Chamberlain, Librarian of the Boston Public 
Library, for facilities in the consultation of the Shakespearian 
treasures in his custody ; also to Mr. Arthur Mason Knapp, 
Librarian of Bates Hall, Boston Public Library, for courteous 
assistance. 

Brunswick, Maine, October, 1887. 



Introduction. 

I. Date of Composition. — Of the earliest known reier- 
ence to A Midfommer nights Dreame, Halliwell-Phillipps, in 
his indispensable Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare, Seventh 
Edition, Longmans, London, 1887, II, 148, writes as follows : 
"The following extracts [including other references to Shake- 
speare besides the allusion to the present play] are from a 
treatise entitled *A comparative Discourse of our English 
poets with the Greeke, Latine and Italian poets,' which is 
near the end of a thick little volume called ' Falladis Tamia. 
Wits Treasury, being the Second part of Wits Commonwealth. 
By Francis Meres, Maister of Artes of both Universities. 
Viiiitur ingenio, ccetera mortis erunt. — At London. — Printed 
by P. Short for Cuthbert Burbie, and are to be solde at his 
shop at the Royall Exchange, 1598.' There can be no doubt 
that this chapter was written in the summer of 1598, the work 
itself having been entered at Stationers' Hall on the 7th of 
September in that year, and there being in the Discourse a 
notice of Marston's Satires registered on the previous 27th 
of May." 

The reference to the present play is as follows : " As Plau- 
tus and Seneca are accounted the best for Comedy and Trag- 
edy among the Latines : so Shakespeare among y^ English is 
the most excellent in both kinds for the stage ; for Comedy, 
witnes his Getleme of Verona, his Errors, his Loue labors lost, 
his Loue labours wonne, his Midsummers night dreame, and his 
Merchant of Venice : for Tragedy his Richard the 2. Richard 
the 3. Henry the 4. King John, Titus Andronicus and his Romeo 
and jfuliet.'^ 

The year 1598 is consequently a date before which the play 
must have been written. With this limitation, the actual date 
of composition is as yet a matter of pure conjecture, based on 
considerations of plot, style, rhythm, etc., or on imaginable 



vi Introduction. 

allusions to events of recent occurrence. Moreover, the play 
may have been composed in honor of a marriage, and on this 
as a principal ground has been supposed to have been written 
as early as in 1590, the year of the marriage of Essex. This 
is the year to which it is ascribed in the English Philological 
Society's Dictionary, s. v. Abridgment. Perhaps the most 
generally preferred date of composition is 1594. 

II. The First Edition. — The first edition was published 
in 1600 by Thomas Fisher, with the following title-page : — 

A 

Midfommer nights 

dreame. 

As it hath beene fundry times pub- 

lickely a^ed, by the Right hoJioiira- 

ble, the Lord Chamberlaine his 

feruants. 

Written by William Shakespeare. 

[Publisher's device.] 

IT Imprinted at London, for Thomas Fijher, and are to 
be foulde at his Ihoppe, at the Signe of the White Hart, 
in Fleetejireete. 1600. 

This title-page and that of the second edition according to 
the Barton copies were published in facsimile among the il- 
lustrations in Mr. Justin Winsor's Shakespeare Bibliography, 
Boston, 1876. Mr. Winsor states that at that date, 1876, the 
Barton copy was the only one of the first edition in the 
United States. This continues to be the case. 

Every student of Shakespeare is grateful for the publication 
of facsimiles in photo-lithography of the first and second edi- 
tions of this play, with introductions by J. W. Ebsworth, 
M. A., which were issued in London, 1880, in the series of 
Shakspere Quarto Facsimiles, executed under the super- 
intendence of F. J. Furnivall, M. A., Ph. D. The Fisher 



Introduction, vii 

quarto facsimile was made up from photographs of two 
copies, that of the Duke of Devonshire being used for fifty- 
five pages, and that of Mr, Alfred H. Huth for the other 
eight, deficient in the duke's copy. The perfect Barton copy 
shows many more variations from this facsimile than one 
would look for, even in a book of that period. In some 
eighty-one cases I have noted the absence of a punctuation- 
mark or a letter from the facsimile while it would be plainly 
present in the Barton copy j as, for instance, in I. i. 21, 
where the Barton copy has " thee'i " and the facsimile ^^thee". 
In some sixty-one instances, where the facsimile might leave 
one in doubt as to the reading of the quarto, in such slight 
details as confusion of / and / or r and /, I find the Barton 
copy to furnish plainly the reading which would naturally be 
assumed to exist. In almost every case of this sort there can 
be no possible ambiguity as to the author's intention. This ab- 
sence of doubt is also true in most cases of the lacking punc- 
tuation-marks and letters in the facsimile. There are also a 
few manifestly intentional corrections of the type during the 
course of the printing of the original edition. 

The Fisher quarto (F) was entered in the Stationers' Reg- 
ister as follows : — 

[a. d. 1600.] 8 Octobris. 

Thomas ffyssher Entred for his Copie vnder the handes of 
master Rodes / and the Wardens, A booke called A Myd- 
sommer nightes Dreame. . . . v]^ ^ 

It was published in the same year, and consists of thirty-two 
leaves, thirty-five lines to a full page, excepting in the case of 
leaves G and Gg, which have on each of the four pages thirty- 
four lines. The Duke of Devonshire's copy of the Roberts 
quarto has Bj verso and B2 recfo printed from the identical 
forms which served for the same pages of the Fisher quarto. 
These pages, not being recfo and verso of one leaf, cannot have 
been inserted in the copy. They prove the priority of the 
Fisher quarto, in which these pages are uniform in individu- 
alities of spelling with all the others, while they are conspicu- 

1 From Prof. Arber's Transcript of the Registers of the Company of Stationers., etc., 
III. 174, as quoted in the Fisher facsimile, page v, above referred to. 



viii Introduction. 

ously different from all the others in the Roberts quarto. 
The Barton copy of the Roberts quarto does not show this 
peculiarity, but has the two pages referred to quite uniform in 
spelling with the rest of the Roberts text. The copy used 
by the Cambridge editors was like the Barton. 

This proves that there were at least two issues of the Rob- 
erts quarto. The punctuation of the Fisher quarto is careful, 
and, being manifestly rhetorical, if I may term it so, rather 
than grammatical, can never be ignored in the interpretation 
of the text. 

III. The Second Edition. — The^second edition (R) was 
not entered in the Stationers' Register. It was published in 
the same year as the first, with the following title-page : — 

A 

Midfommer nights 

dreame. 

As it hath beene fundry times pub- 

likely aHed, by the Right Honour a- 

ble, the Lord Chamberlaine his 

feruants. 

Written by William Shakefpeare. 

[Printer's device.] 

Printed by lames Roberts, 1600. 

It consists likewise of thirty-two leaves, thirty-five lines to a 
full page. It corresponds with F, page for page to a word, 
though not line for line, excepting in the cases of leaves G 
and G2 which are set up, presumably by oversight, a line short 
in F. With the last line of G3 recto the uniformity with F is 
restored. 

Although the identity of B verso and B2 recto in R (Duke 
of Devonshire's copy) and F does not prove that Roberts was 
the printer of F, it shows, nevertheless, that he may have been, 
and so may have had access to the MS. which was used for F. 

Almost the only improvements in R over F are typographi- 



Introduction. ix 

cal, consisting mainly in corrections of some twelve or fifteen 
misprints, none of them less obvious than that of .1. i. 4, 
wanes for wanes in F. In one place, V. i. 7-9, the alignment 
is corrected. Mention is made in the Notes of a few cases 
in which R has the appearance of having done more than 
correct the printer's errors in F; yet the ground of these 
changes may have been in the context only. 

R changed freely the spelling and punctuation of F, and 
made frequent substitution of one word or phrase for another, 
with the result of mere variation in form, and not in sense. 

R is not printed with nearly as great care as F. Cases of 
inferiority are numerous throughout the text. The facsimile 
of R in the Shakspere Quarto Facsimile series, above re- 
ferred to, shows a much closer likeness of the Duke of Devon- 
shire's copy, from which the photographs were taken, to the 
Barton copy than was the case in the copies of F. There are 
only about twenty instances of seemingly lacking punctuation- 
marks or of like relatively insignificant variations, and some 
twenty-five cases in which the facsimile shows defective or 
doubtful punctuation or letters ; as, for instance, in IV". i. 182, 
worne. as against worne, in the Barton copy. There are at 
present six copies of the original Roberts quarto in the 
United States, located or owned as follows : — 

Boston Public Library, Barton Collection. 

Mr. Theodore Irwin, Oswego, N. Y. 

Mr. Charles H. Kalbfleisch, New York. 

Lenox Library, New York. 

Mr. N. Q. Pope, Brooklyn. 

University of Virginia, Charlottesville. 
Through the uniform kindness of the custodians or owners 
I have ascertained that these copies are all of the second 
issue. 

IV. The Third Edition. — The third edition of the play 
consisted of pages 145-162 in the division of Comedies in 
the First Folio, 1623. This first collective edition of Shake- 
speare's plays adopted the Roberts text of the present play. 
It continues many obvious blunders of R, while its corrections 
of R and agreement with F are with rare exceptions plainly 
such as any intelligent reader could make. 

The First Folio was reprinted with marvellous accuracy by 



X Introduction. 

Lionel Booth, London, 1862-4. My collation of this reprint 
with the Barton copy did not result in the detection of a 
single variation except in the wholly insignificant case of IV. i. 
75, Oiieene for Queene in the Barton copy. As a nmatter of curi- 
osity I note that the Barton copy and the Booth reprint agree 
in the misprinting of III. i. 124, with, with inverted i, as 
against with in Staunton's Lithographic Facsimile of the First 
Folio, London, 1866 ; likewise in III. 2. 138, my, as against 
my in Staunton. These microscopic variations probably exist 
in the originals. 



Notes. 

The division of the text ijito scenes, in the present edition, 
is that adopted by modern editors, almost without exception. 

The line-numbers of the parts of the play in verse are those 
of the metrical, and not of the typographical, arrangement. 
The lines of the parts in prose are numbered according to 
the printing of the First Folio which is facsimiled in this edi- 
tion. 

The three texts are identical in spelling, punctuation, and 
alignment except so far as the foot-notes show the contrary. It 
seemed useless, however, to include such a variation as the 
abbreviation Hyp. for Hip. when the same personage is un- 
mistakably referred to in the three texts. 

F stands for Fisher quarto. 

R stands for Roberts quarto. 

R* stands for " " facsimile, Shakspere Quarto 

Facsimiles, London, 1880. 

^^ FR3 indicates that F and R begin their third page with 
the twenty-third line. The title-page is numbered i, the re- 
verse of it is blank, the next printed page, that of the open- 
ing of the play, 2, and so on. 

[145^] indicates the page and column in the First Folio. 

j]! F :R indicates that the ; is replaced by an ! in F and 
by a : in R. 

-](?;«. F indicates that the hyphen is omitted, and that the 
words or parts of words so connected in the Folio are printed 
as one word in F. When a hyphen is in the Folio and the 
words are printed as two in F or R, they are so written in the 
foot-notes. 

/ marks the end of a line. 

is : / F is. / R indicates that the metrical line referred to is 
printed as a single line in F and R ending as shown. 

The dates of the principal older editions of Shakespeare, and 
of such recent ones as are referred to in the notes, are : — 



xii Notes, 

1632 Second Folio. 
1664 Third 
1685 Fourth " 
1709 Rowe. 
17 14 " , 2d edition. 
1725 Pope. 

1728 " , 2d edition. 
1733 Theobald. 
1744 Hanmer. 
1747 Warburton. 
1765 Johnson. 
1767 Capell. 
1790 Malone. 

1793 Johnson and Steevens, 4th edition, revised and aug- 
mented by Isaac Reed. 
182 1 Boswell's Variorum. 
1853 Halliwell's Folio edition. 
1857 Dyce. 

1863 Cambridge edition, Clark and Wright. 

1864 Globe edition, Clark and Wright. 

1877 Clarendon Press edition of Shakespeare's Select 
Plays, Wright. 

1877 Friendly edition, Rolfe. 

[1877-1881] Leopold edition, text of Delius, introd. by 
Furnivall (Delius' 5th Germ, ed., 1882). 

1880 Harvard edition, Hudson. 

1883 Riverside edition, White. 

Unless an exception is made by showing in ( ) the practice 
of a single editor, the notes give merely the name of the editor 
proposing the giveti change, which has been uniformly adopted 
by succeeding editors. Thus I. i. 10 Now bent] New-bent 
Rowe indicates that Rowe made the change referred to, and 
has been followed generally ; and in particular by, at least, 
the Cambridge, Globe, Clarendon Press, Delius, Rolfe, Hud- 
son, and White editions. 

The stage-directions which are not assigned to any editor 
in the notes, are all as early as Capell, except V. i. 44, 48, 
52, 56, 291, 334. I have not at hand the means to trace the 
source of the changes referred to in the notes on IV. i. 42 
and 55. 

I.I. Scene I. Athens. The jPa/ace 0/ Theseus. 

3 Moon Fo.] The absence of the final e seems to 
be due to a practice of omitting this silent letter 
in the case of crowded lines. This contraction 



Notes. xiii 

applies also to final double consonants, as in 
line 7, wil, and often. Compare I. i. 201, 
wold RFo, wer Fo. These shorter forms were 
also sometimes used, when there was no such 
typographical reason. F has nights on the 
title-page and at the top of page 2, where there 
was not in either case space for an extra e; the 
head-line of each page, however, excepting p. 
61, has nightes. 
10 Now bent] New-bent Rowe. 
15 \_Exit Fhilostrate.'] Theobald. 
24 Stand forth Demetrius. F and 
26 Stand forth Lisander. F are the only stage-direc- 
tions in F which have the personal names in 
italics. They were first printed as part of the 
text by Rowe. 

127 Exeunt Fo] The loss or the lack of a punctua- 
tion-mark at the very end of a line is not un- 
common ; compare 1. 201, I. 2. no, and often. 

136 loue] low Theobald. 

187 Your words I] Yours would I Hanmer. 

191 \\q {Deliusy\Vdi Hanmer. 

216 sweld] sweet Theobald. 

219 strange companions] stranger companies Theo- 
bald. 

I. 2. Scene II. Athens. 

Quince's house. Capell. 

II. I. Scene I. A wood near Athens. 

7 Moons FRFo] The printers in all three cases 
may have omitted an e because of a crowded 
line. 
48, 49 . . . crab / . . . bob / ] Compare for the 
rhyme V. i. 290-1. . . . pap/ . . . hop/ 

60 (Scene II. Delius.) 

61 Fairy] Fairies Theobald. See note on IV. 2. 206. 
79 Eagles] ^gle Rowe. 

91 Hath] Have Rowe, 2d ed. 
109 chinne]thin Halliwell, Tyrwhitfs conjecture. 
177 when she FFo whence she R] For a somewhat 
similar perversion of the text see IV. i. 79, 
loath his F, loathe this R, loath this Fo, and IV. 
I. 190, thing seemes FR, things seemes Fo. 
190 stay] slay Theobald, Thirlbfs conjecture. 

stayeth] slayeth Theobald, Thirlbfs conjecture. 
242 \Exit Dem. Capell {om. Delius, Hudson^ 
244 {Exii\ Exeunt Demetrius and Helena. Delius^ 

Hudson^ 
247 Enter Fucke."] Re-enter Pucke, after line 246. 



xiv Notes. 

II. 2. Scene II. Capell. (Sc. III. Delius.) 

Another part of the wood. 
26 [Exeunt Fairies. Howe. 

Enter Oberon, and squeezes the flower on Tita- 
nid's eyelids. Capell. 
34 \Exit. Rowe. 

57 humane] human Fourth Folio, 168^. 
100 Lysander! Capell. 
119 humane] human Fourth Folio, 168^. 

III. I. Scene I. The wood. Titania lying asleep. 

66 or] and Collier MS. 
74 Enter Pucke behind. 

79 Fir. {D elites, Hudson^ Bot. 
81 Fir, {Delius, Hudson^ Bot, 

85 \Exit. Capell. 

86 This. {Delius, Hudson^ Flu. 
90 Thys. {Delius, Hudson.)'] Flu. 
98 Thys. {Delius, Hudson.)] Flu. 

100 Re-enter Puck, and Bottom with an ass' head.] 
Capell. 
Fir. (Delius, Hudson.)] Bot. 
159 First Fai. Ready. 

Sec. Fai. And I. 

Third Fai. And I. 

Fourth Fai. And I. {pm. Delius^ 

All. {Fourth Fai. Delius^ Where shall we go ? 
Capell. 

171 First Fai. Hail, mortal ! 

Sec. Fai. Hail ! Capell. 

172 Third Fai. Hail! Capell. 

173 Fourth Fai. Hail ! Capell. 

192 you {Delius)] your Third Folio, 1664 (you of Col- 
Her MS., Hudson, Rolfe.) 
III. 2. Scene H. Another part of the wood. 

6 love.] Rowe. 

80 part I so : / See me no more, whether Pope. 
85 slip] sleep Rowe. 

141 coniealed F] Compare "coniealed frost" in 
Cle7nent Robinsoji^s A Handefull of pleasant de- 
lites, Lond. 1584, p. 3, 1. 7 ; reprinted by Prof. 
Arber in The English Scholar's Library, No. 3. 

190 bare] bear Fourth Folio, 168^. 

201 See note on 1. 257. 

213 first life] first, like Theobald, Folhes's conjecticre. 

250 praise] prayers Theobald. 

257 The text and the printing of F seem to me per- 
fectly defensible. There is certainly no printed 



Notes. XV 

unaccented syllable in the fifth foot, but on the 
stage the second 710 may have been delivered in 
the time of two syllables, if not actually as no-o. 
The typographical disarrangement which R in- 
troduced and Fo copied shows that, although 
they did not appreciate the rhythm of F, yet 
they did not add an extra monosyllabic word. 
The same uniform treatment by FRFo is to be 
observed in lines 201 and 421 of this scene. 
Compare Abbott, Shak. Gram., 482. 

264 O {Deliusy\ om. Pope. 

406 Speak ! In some bush .?] Capell. 

413 Re-e?iter Lysander. 

420 [Sleeps. Capell. 

421 See note on 1. 257. 

430 [Lies down and sleeps. Capell. 

440 Enter Hermid\ Re-enter Hermia after 1. 441. 

447 [Lies down and sleeps, 

451 To your eye] Rowe. 

452 Squeezing the juice on Lysander' s eyes. Rowe. 
IV. I. Scene I. The same. Lysander, Demetrius, 

Helena, and Hermia lying asleep. 
The lines of this scene are wrongly numbered in 
the Globe ed. Titania's lines 27 and 30 are 
reckoned as two each. 
, 41 alwaies]all ways Theobald (a while Hanmer, 
Hudson, White?) 
42 Omit commas. 
55 flowerets' 

73 or] o'er Theobald, Thirlby^s conjecture. 
82 these five Theobald, Thirlbys conjecture. 
93 Faire Fo] Compare V. i. 16 aire Fo. 
117 Seem'd Second Folio, i6j2. 
133 right] rite Pope. 

172 see] saw Steevens. See for saw occurs very com- 

monly in dialect usage in Maine, and presum- 
ably in Northern New England generally. 
" Soons he see me cummin, he run." 

173 z^m Steeve7is. 

206 about expound F] The emendation of F which 
seems necessary here, namely, about fexpoimd, 
is quite like that of II. i. 61, Fairy skippe 
(skip RFo) FRFo Fairies skip, which was made 
by Theobald. 

208 but patcht a FR] Compare As You Like It, I. i. 
2, but poor a ; and Abbott, Shak, Gram., 422. 



XVI 



Notes. 



IV. 2. Scene II. Athens. Quince's house. Omit Thisby. 

14 naught Second Folio, 1632. 

28 I am not true Athenian FR] Compare Clement 
Robinsoti's A Handefull of pleasant delites, Ar- 
ber's Reprint, p. 30 : — 

I wil be stil readie, as I am true man. 

V.I. Scene I. Athens. The palace of TiiES^us. 

43 [^Giving a paper. Theobald. 

44 [Reads.'] 
48 [Reads^ 
52 [^Reads.] 
56 Reads.] 

84 Exit Philostrate. 

105 Re-enter Philostrate. Theobald. 

176 Wall holds up hisfngers. Capell. 

202 \Exeunt V\-B^. and Tms,. Dyce. 

205 morall] mural Pope, 2d ed. (wall White.) 

Now is the Moon vsed between the two neigh- 
bors. FR] The agreement of R with F gives a 
strong presumption in favor of the correctness 
of a reading. Something besides can be said 
for the reasonableness of this passage, which, 
as far as I can learn, has every editor against it. 
The Prologue had announced, lines 134-7 : — 

This man, with lanterne, dogge, and bufh of thorne, 
Prefenteth moone-fliine. For if you will know, 
By moone-fhine did thefe louers thinke no fcorne 
To meete at Nimcs tombe, there, there to wooe : 

The Enterlude then proceeded as far as this 
agreement of Pyramus and Thisbie to meet at 
the tomb, and Wall, who had served between 
the two neighbors, makes his explanation and 
leaves the stage. Thereupon the Duke says 
that now, in accordance with the statement of 
the Prologue, the Moon will be used between 
the two neighbors, probably in some such in- 
genuous way as the Wall had been. 

260 \The Lion shakes Thisbe^s mantle, and exit. Capell. 

266 beames] gleams Staunton, Knighfs conjecture. 

268 The following " Sonet " from Clement Robinson^ s 
A Handefull of pleasant delites, Arber's Reprint, 
pp. 30-32, shows marked coincidences with 
parts of this Enterlude, both in words and 
rhythm. 



Notes. xvii 

A new Sonet of Pyramus and Thisbie. 

To the \tu7te of], Downe right Squier. 

[Y] Ou Dames (I say) that climbe the mount of Helicon, 
Come on with me, and giue account, what hath been 

don : 
Come tell the chaunce ye Muses all, and dolefull newes. 
Which on these Louers did befall, which I accuse. 
In Babilon not long agone, a noble Prince did dwell : 
whose daughter bright dimd ech ones sight, so farre she 

did excel. 

U" An other Lord of high renowne, who had a sonne : 
And dwelling there within the towne, great loue be- 

gunne : 
Pyramus this noble Knight, I tel you true : 
Who with the loue of Thisbie bright, did cares renue : 
It came to passe, their secrets was, beknowne vnto them 

both: 
And then in minde, they place do finde, where they their 

loue vnclothe. 

IF This loue they vse long tract of time, till it befell : 
At last they promised to meet at prime, by Mintcs well : 
Where they might louingly imbrace, in loues delight : 
That he might see his Ihisbies face, and she his sight : 
In ioyful case, she approcht the place, where she her 

Pyramus 
Had thought to viewd, but was renewd, to them most 

dolorous. 

IT Thus while she stales for Pyramus, there did proceed : 
Out of the wood a Lion fierce, made Thisbie dreed : 
And as in haste she fled awaie, her Mantle fine : 
The Lion tare in stead of praie, till that the time 
That Pyramus proceeded thus, and see how lion tare 
The Mantle this of Thisbie his, he desperately doth fare. 

IT For why he thought the lion had, faire Thisbie slaine. 
And then the beast with his bright blade, he slew cer- 

taine : 
Then made he mone and said alas, (O wretched wight) 
Now art thou in a woful case for Thisbie bright : 
Oh Gods aboue, my faithfull loue shal neuer faile this 

need : 
For this my breath by fatall death, shal weaue Atropos 

threed. 

IT Then from his sheathe he drew his blade, and to his hart 
He thrust the point, and life did vade, with painfull 

smart : 
Then Thisbie she from cabin came with pleasure great, 
And to the well apase she ran, there for to treat : 
And to discusse, to Pyramus of al her former feares. 
And when slaine she, found him truly, she shed foorth 

bitter teares. 

IT When sorrow great that she had made, she took in hand 
The bloudie knife, to end her life, by fatall hand. 



XVIU 



Notes. 



You Ladies all, peruse and see, the faithfulnesse. 
How these two Louers did agree, to die in distresse : 
You Muses waile, and do not faile, but still do you 

lament : 
These louers twaine, who with such paine, did die so 
well content. 

Finis. 

I. Thomson. 

291 \Stabs himself, (om. Delius^ 

297 Exit Moonshine. Capell. 

298 \jDies. Capell. 
304 Tspm. Rowe. 

310 Moth {Delius)\ mote Steevens, Heath'' s conjecture. 
334 \Stabs herself, (om. Delius.) 

340 £ot. {Starti7ig up.) Capell. (pm. Delius, Hudson^) 
350 \A dance. Capell. 

359 (Scene II. Capell, Delius?) 
lion] Rowe. 

360 beholds] behowls Theobald, Warburton. 
388 The Song^ Song a7id dance. Capell. 

407-8 These lines were transposed by Staunton, who 
is followed by Clar. Press, Globe, Hudso7i, Rolfe, 
and White. 

410 \Exeunt Y^lxxig, Queen, and train. Capell. 



DRAMATIS PERSONS. 

{First given by Rowe.) 

Theseus, Duke of Athens. 
Egeus, father to Hermia. 

n?^.Tp?;c [m love with Hermia. 
Demetrius, J 

Philostrate, master of the revels to Theseus. 

Quince, a carpenter. 

Snug, a joiner. 

Bottom, a weaver. 

Flute, a bellows-mender. 

Snout, a tinker. 

Starveling, a tailor. 

HiPPOLYTA, queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus. 
Hermia, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander. 
Helena, in love with Demetrius. 

Oberon, king of the fairies. 

TiTANiA, queen of the fairies. 

Puck, or Robin Goodfellow. 

Peaseblossom, "j 

Cobweb, i ... 

Moth, ' [ ^^'"^^ 

Mustardseed, J 

Prologue, 

Pyranms, 

Thisbe, 

Wall, 

Moonshine, 

Lion, J 

Other fairies attending their King and Queen. Attendants on Theseus 
and Hippolyta. 

Scene. Athens, and a wood not far from it. 



Characters in the Interlude performed by the Clowns. 



I D S O M M E R 

Nights Dreame. 



Ailus primus. 



Enter Thefeus, Hippolita, with others. 

The/eus. 

^4SJ0w faire Hippolita, our nuptiall houre [145i] 

N^^Jro Drawes on apace : foure happy daies bring in 
Another Moon: but oh, me thinkes, how flow 
This old Moon wanes ; She lingers my defires 
Like to a Step-dame, or a Dowager, 5 

Long withering out a yong mans reuennew. 

Ifip. Foure daies wil quickly fl:eep thefelues in nights 
Foure nights wil quickly dreame away the time : 
And then the Moone, like to a ffluer bow. 
Now bent in heauen, flial behold the night 10 

Of our folemnities. 

The. Go Philq/traie, 
Stirre vp the Athenian youth to merriments, 
Awake the pert and nimble fpirit of mirth, 
Turne melancholy forth to Funerals : 

The pale companion is not for our pompe, 15 

Hippolita, I woo'd thee with my fword. 
And wonne thy loue, doing thee iniuries : 
But I will wed thee in another key. 
With pompe, with triumph, and with reuelling. 

Enter Egeiis and his daughter ITermia, Lyfa7ider^ 
and Demetrius. 
Ege. Happy be The/eus, our renowned Duke. 20 

The. Thanks good Egeus : what's the news with thee ? 
Ege. Full of vexation, come I, with complaint 
Againft my childe, my daughter Hermia. 
Stand forth Dometrius. 

FR3 Adus primus?^ om.Y'B. ihowerF 2 Draws F apafe F fower F 
3 An other F Moone FR me thinks F me-thinks R * Moone FR 
wanes F ;]! F : R -fires, F &-](?;«. F -dam R 6 young R reue- 
newe F reuenew R '' Fower F will FR fteepe FR night : F » Fower F 
nights] daies R will FR ^bowe F ^ ihall FR beholde F "GoeFR 
13 peart FR "foorth FR i^pomp F ,]. FR ^^Hyp-Y i^reuel- 
ing F Lyfander\ and Lyfander and Helena F and Lyjander, Helena R 
2iThankesF :].FR WhatsF newes FR ^apRS 24foorthR Z>m^-FR 



2 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [i. 1.24-59] 

My Noble Lord, 

This man hath my confent to marrie her. 25 

Stand forth Lyfander. 
And my gracious Duke, 

This man hath bewitch'd the bofome of my childe : 
Thou, thou Lyfander, thou haft giuen her rimes, 
And interchang'd loue-tokens with my childe : 
Thou haft by Moone-light at her window fung, 30 

With faining voice, verfes of faining loue. 
And ftolne the impreffion of her fantafie, 
With bracelets of thy haire, rings, gawdes, conceits, 
Knackes, trifles, Nofe-gaies, fweet meats (meffengers 
Of ftrong preuailment in vnhardned youth) 35 

With cunning haft thou filch'd my daughters heart, [1452J 
Turn'd her obedience (which is due to me) 
To ftubborne harlhnefle. And my gracious Duke, 
Be it fo flie will not heere before your Grace, 
Confent to marrie with Demetrius, 40 

I beg the ancient priuiledge of Athens ; 
As fhe is mine, I may difpofe of her ; 
Which Ihall be either to this Gentleman, 
Or to her death, according to our Law,- 
Immediately prouided in that cafe. 45 

The. What fay you Hermia ? be aduis'd faire Maide, 
To you your Father fhould be as a God ; 
One that compos'd your beauties ; yea and one 
To whom you are but as a forme in waxe 
By him imprinted : and within his power, 50 

To leaue the figure, or disfigure it : 
Demetrius is a worthy Gentleman. 

Her. So is Lyfander. 

The. In himfelfe he is. 
But in this kinde, wanting your fathers voyce. 
The other muft be held the worthier, 55 

Her. I would my father look'd but with my eyes. 

The. Rather your eies muft with his iudgment looke. 

Her. I do entreat your Grace to pardon me. 
I know not by what power I am made bold, 

25-ryFR 26foorth R Lif-Y -tious F sT.^itchtFR :]. F 29]oue 
tokens FR 3D haft, F -light, F -dowe F 32 phantafie : F 33.ceites F 
31 Knacks R -]ow. FR fweete F meates FR ^s.^ailement FR 

-dened FR 35fiicht FR 37 Turnd FR mee F 38^,-,^, F -tious F 
39fo,F here, F here R *0-ry FR *iaun- F ;]: F ^^■;\:Y *3be, F 
*4,1;F lawe F ^^.^tly FR -ded, F *6you, F -uif'd, FR maid FR 
,i'f 47 you F fhoud R ;]: FR 48 .]. p one, FR ^nvhomeF 
wax, F wax R so .]_ pR '^^Lif- F is :/ F is./ R s* voice F .], FR 
^ FR4 loolct FR S7 eyes FR muft, F iudgement, F iudgement R .], F 
^doeF intreat F intreate R grace, F mee F ^9 power, F bouldjF 



1. 1. 60-96.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 3 

Nor how it may concerne my modeftie 60 

In fuch a prefence heere to pleade my thoughts : 
But I befeech your Grace, that I may know 
The worft that may befall me in this cafe, 
If I refufe to wed Demetrius. 

The. Either to dye the death, or to abiure 65 

For euer the fociety of men. 
Therefore faire Hermia queflion your delires, 
Know of your youth, examine well your blood, 
Whether (if you yeeld not to your fathers choice) 
You can endure the liuerie of a Nunne, 70 

For aye to be in fhady Cloifler mew'd, 
To liue a barren filler all your life, 
Chanting faint hymnes to the cold fruitleffe Moone, 
Thrice bleffed they that mafter fo their blood, 
To vndergo fuch maiden pilgrimage, 75 

But earthlier happie is the Rofe diftil'd. 
Then that which withering on the virgin thorne, 
Growes, Hues, and dies, in fingle bleffedneffe. 

Her. So will I grow, fo liue, fo die my Lord, [146^] 

Ere I will yeeld my virgin Patent vp 80 

Vnto his Lordfhip, whofe vnwifhed yoake, 
My foule confents not to giue foueraignty. 

The. Take time to paufe, and by the next new Moon 
The fealing day betwixt my loue and me, 
For euerlafting bond of fellowfhip : 85 

Vpon that day either prepare to dye, 
For difobedience to your fathers will. 
Or elfe to wed Demetrius as hee would. 
Or on Dianaes Altar to proteft 
For aie, aufterity, and fingle life. 90 

Dem. Relent fweet Hermia, and L}>fander, yee\de 
Thy crazed title to my certaine right. 

Lyf. You haue her fathers loue, Demetrius : 
Let me haue Hermiaes : do you marry him. 

Egeus, Scornfull Ly/ander, true, he hath my Loue ; 95 

Aud what is mine, my loue fhall render him. 

60 modefty, FR ei prgfence, here FR plead FR :]; R ^^knovi&Y 
63mee F ^^dy Y die R abiure, F esguer, F 67 Therefore, F 
Hermia, FR ssKnowe F e^yeelde F choyce FR TOjiuery FR 
"cloyfter, F ,'\om. FR '^^barraine F ''SChaunting F hymnes, F 
colde FR ,]. FR 74Thrife F they, F bloode F ^Syndergoe F 
,]: F ^Searthlyer F happy FR diftild FR "that, which, F ^growe F 
dye R ^o yjeid F Patent, F ^i -fhippe F yoake,] yoake FR ^2 .ai,-,ty FR 
83pawfe F newe F moone, FR 8* day, F mee F ^^-(hippe, F 
88-/2^j, FR heFRwoldR so.tgft, FR 9^ aye FR -tie and F 91FR6 
Relent, F fweete FR and, F yeeld FR ^^-mias FR doe F 
95 Scornefull F ;]: F 96 And FR 



4 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [I. i. 97-133 

And fhe is mine, and all my right of her, 
I do eftate vnto Detnetrius. 

Lyf. I am my Lord, as well deriu'd as he, 
As well poffeft : my loue is more then his : 100 

My fortunes euery way as fairely ranck'd 
(If not with vantage) as Demetrius : 
And (which is more then all thefe boalls can be) 
I am belou'd of beauteous Hermia. 

Why fhould not I then profecute my right? 105 

Demetrius, He auouch it to his head, 
Made loue to Nedars daughter, Helena, 
And won her foule : and fhe (fweet Ladie) dotes, 
Deuoutly dotes, dotes in Idolatry, 
Vpon this fpotted and inconftant man. no 

The. I muft confeffe, that I haue heard fo much, 
And with Demetrius thought to haue fpoke thereof : 
But being ouer-full of felfe-aff aires, 
My minde did lofe it. But Demetrius come, 
And come Egeus, you fhall go with me, 115 

I haue fome priuate fchooling for you both. 
For you faire Herf?iia, looke you arme your felfe, 
To fit your fancies to your Fathers will ; 
Or elfe the Law of Athens yeelds you vp 
(Which by no meanes we may extenuate) 120 

To death, or to a vow of fmgle life. 
Come my Hippolita, what cheare my loue ? 
Demetrius and Egeus go along : 
I muft imploy you in fome bufmeffe 

Againft our nuptiall, and conferre with you 125 

Of fomething, neerely that concernes your felues. 

Ege. With dutie and defire we follow you. Exeunt 

Manet Lyfander and Hermia. 

Lyf. How now my loue "i Why is your cheek fo pale ? 
How chance the Rofes there do fade fo f aft ? 

Her. Belike for want of raine, which I could well 130 

Beteeme them, from the tempeft of mine eyes. 

Lyf. For ought that euer I could reade. 
Could euer heare by tale or hiftorie, 

9Ther,]herFR 98 doe F 99hee FR wothanF lo^rankt F 
rancktR losboaftes F io4 .tjous FR lo^heade F losfweete FR 
Lady R iHmuch; F "2 And, F -ius, FR :]; R nsgut, F 
ouerfullFR felfe af- F n^IoofeF "SgoeF mee : F i" you, faire F 
"S-cies, F 119 elfe, F isiyowe F ^'^'^ Hyppoliia : F ,]; R i^Sgoe FR 
124 employ F -neffe, F ^^ FR6 fome thing F nerely F 1^7 duety F 
duty R defire, FR Manet Lvfander and Hermia] om. FR 1^8 cheeke FR 
129 doe F 13^ Belike, F ,] : F ; R i3i my FR 132 For] Eigh me ; for F 
Eigh me ; for R aught F euer I could] I could euer FR , i^ here F 
-ryFR 



1. 1. 134-168.] A Midfommer nights Dreame, 5 

The courfe of true loue neuer did run fmooth, 

But either it was different in blood. 135 

Her. O croffe ! too high to be enthral'd to loue. 

Lyf. Or elfe mifgraffed, in refpe6t of yeares. 

Her. O fpight ! too old to be ingag'd to yong. 

Lyf. Or elfe it ftood vpon the choife of merit. 

Her. O hell ! to choofe loue by anothers eie. 140 

Lyf. Or if there were a fimpathie in choife, 
Warre, death, or fickneffe, did lay fiege to it ; 
Making it momentarie, as a found : 

Swift as a fhadow, fhort as any dreame, [1462] 

Briefe as the lightning in the collied night, 145 

That (in a fpleene) vnfolds both heauen and earth ; 
And ere a man hath power to fay, behold, 
The iawes of darkneffe, do deuoure it vp : 
So quicke bright things come to confufion. 

Her. If then true Louers haue beene euer croft, 150 

It Hands as an edi6l in deftinie : 
Then let vs teach our triall patience, 
Becaufe it is a cuftomarie croffe. 
As due to loue, as thoughts, and dreames, and fighes, 
Wilhes and teares j poore Fancies followers. 155 

Lyf. A good perfwafion ; therefore heare me Hermia, 
I haue a Widdow Aunt, a dowager. 
Of great reuennew, and fhe hath no childe, 
From Athens is her houfe remou'd feuen leagues, 
And fhe refpedls me, as her onely fonne : 160 

There gentle Hermia, may I marrie thee. 
And to that place, the Iharpe Athenian Law 
Cannot purfue vs. If thou lou'fl me, then 
Steale forth thy fathers houfe to morrow night : 
And in the wood, a league without the towne, 165 

(Where I did meete thee once with Helena, 
To do obferuance for a morne of May) 
There will I flay for thee. 

Her. My good Lyfander, 

134 runne fmoothe FR ,]: F iS5bloud;FR i^^ inthrald FR i^t.]. pR 
issolde FR young F isSglfe, F ftoode F choyce F merit.] friends ; FR 
1*°!], FR eyes FR .]! F "iQr, FR fympathy F fimpathy R 
choyce F i42death or F fiedge R wSmomentany FR :]; FR 
144 Swift, F fhadowe F ,]; FR fhort, F ,]; FR 1*5 Briefe, F 
lightening R i«And, F beholde F "8 darkeneffe F iS'^bin FR 
151 edia, F -ny FR 152 patience : F iss -ary FR i^* dewe F i^s Wifhes, F 
156;]: FR mee, F me, R ,]: FR iST^jdowe F widow R Ant R 
158 reuenew FR childe : F 159 remou'd] remote, F remote R seauen F 
,]:F 160 refpedes mee F only F isi FR7 There, F marry FR ,]: F 
163 can not F loueft FR mee F 16* houfe, FR 165 towne,'] towne FR 
i66,]^w. F i6Tfor]toFR 



6 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [1. 1. 169-203. 

I fweare to thee, by Cupids ftrongeft bow, 

By his bell arrow with the golden head, 170 

By the fimplicitie of Venus Doues, 

By that which knitteth foules, and profpers loue, 

And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage Queene, 

When the falfe Troyan vnder faile was feene, 

By all the vowes that euer men haue broke, 175 

(In number more then euer women fpoke) 

In that fame place thou haft appointed me, 

To morrow truly will I meete with thee. 

Lyf. Keepe promife loue : looke here comes Helena. 

Enter Helena. 

Her. God fpeede faire Helena, whither away .? 180 

Hel. Cal you me faire ? that faire againe vnfay, 
Demetrius loues you faire : O happie faire ! 
Your eyes are loadftarres, and your tongues fweet a)7re 
More tuneable then Larke to Ihepheards eare, 
When wheate is greene, when hauthorne buds appeare, 185 
Sickneffe is catching : O were fauor fo, 
Your words I catch, faire Hermia ere I go. 
My eare fhould catch your voice, my eye, your eye, 
My tongue fhould catch your tongues fweet melodic. 
Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated, 190 

The reft He giue to be to you tranflated. 
O teach me how you looke, and with what art 
you fway the motion of Demetrius hart. 

Her. I frowne vpon him, yet he loues me ftill. 

Hel. O that your frownes would teach my fmiles 195 

fuch skil. 

Her. I giue him curfes, yet he giues me loue. 

Hel. O that my prayers could fuch affe6lion mooue. 

Her. The more I hate, the more he followes me. 

Hel. The more I loue, the more he hateth me. 

Her. His folly Helena is none of mine. 200 

Hel. None but your beauty, wold that fault wer mine 

Her. Take comfort : he no more Ihall fee my face, 
Lyfander and my felfe will flie this place. 

i69bowe F "0 arrowe, F arrow, R heade F "i.tyR iTsjoues F 
^■^3 fire, F burnd FR ^Ti Troiatt F sayle R "^ mee F "^ truely FR 
1™:], R looke, F isoj. F mcall FR mee F ,]. F i82you] your FR 
happy FR i^aioadflars R fweete aire F 1^4 tunable F larke, F 
fteepeheards F i*^^ wheat F buddes F ,]. F ise q, F fauour FR 
187 -mia, F goe FR is9 fweete F -dy FR ,]. F 192 q, F mee F 
Art, FR 193 You FR heart FR "iFRS ,]; F hee F mee F 
195 frowns FR wold R .]ow. R skil./FR i^^,]; F mee F i^^meeF 
199 mee F aoofoHy, pR Helena, Y none] no fault F 201 j. p would F 
were FR mine. FR 202 j. p aosfly pR 



1. 1. 204-240.] A Midfoinmer nights Dreame, 7 

Before the time I did Lyfander fee, 

Seem'd Athens like a Paradife to mee. 205 

O then, what graces in my Loue do dwell, [147i] 

That he hath turn'd a heauen into hell. 

Lyf. Helen, to you our mindes we will vnfold. 
To morrow night, when Phoebe doth behold 
Her filuer vifage, in the watry glaffe, 210 

Decking with liquid pearle, the bladed graffe 
(A time that Louers flights doth ftill conceale) 
Through Athens gates, haue we deuis'd tofl:eale. 

Her. And in the wood, where often you and I, 
Vpon faint Primrofe beds, were wont to lye, 215 

Emptying our bofomes, of their counfell fweld : 
There my Lyfander, and my felfe fhall meete. 
And thence from Athens turne away our eyes 
To feeke new friends and flrange companions, 
Farwell fweet play-fellow, pray thou for vs, 220 

And good lucke grant thee thy Demetrius. 
Keepe word Lyfatider we muft flarue our fight. 
From louers foode, till morrow deepe midnight. 

Exit Hermia. 

Lyf. I will my Hermia. Helena adieu, 
As you on him, Demetrius dotes on you. Exit Lyfander. 225 

Hele. How happy fome, ore otherfome can be ? 
Through Athens I am thought as faire as flie. 
But what of that ? Demetrius thinkes not fo : 
He will not know, what all, but he doth know, 
And as hee erres, doting on Hermias eyes ; 230 

So I, admiring of his qualities : 
Things bafe and vilde, holding no quantity, 
Loue can tranfpofe to forme and dignity, 
Loue lookes not with the eyes, but with the minde, 
And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blinde. 235 

Nor hath loues minde of any iudgement tafle : 
Wings and no eyes, figure, vnheedy hafte. 
And therefore is Loue faid to be a childe, 
Becaufe in choife he is often beguil'd. 
As waggifh boyes in game themfelues forfweare ; 240 

204 z/. F 205 like] as F -dice R me R 206dooe F 207hee F 
turnd F into] unto a F .]! F 208^ee F vnfould : F 209beholde F 
211-ing, F 212 time, FR 213^66 F deuifed R sispimrofeR beddes F 
216 :], FR 218 thence, from Athens, F eyes, F 2i9 ,]. FR 220 Farewell, F 
fweeteFR -lom-.Y ,]: F ,]: F 22igrauntF 222.^^^. f 221 j.p 
225 dote FR 226happieF -fome, F ?]! F ^'^''-ens,Y fhee F 
228FR*R9 229knowe FR* hee FR» doe FR* do R know. FR* 
230 he R ;]: FR* 231 .]. pR* 232viie FR»R -tie FR* 233.tie. FR* 
234 minde: FR* ^^^Wmgd. FR*R 237 wings, FR*R 238 bee FR* 
,]: FR* 239 Becaufe, in choyce, FR* often] fo oft FR* oft R 

beguilde R ,]. FR* 210 boyes, in game, FR* ;]: FR* 



8 A Midfommer nights Dreafne. [I. i. 241-2. 21. 

So the boy Loue is periur'd euery where. 

For ere Demetrius lookt on Hermias eyne, 

He hail'd downe oathes that he was onely mine. 

And when this Haile fome heat from Hermia felt, 

So he diffolu'd, and fliowres of oathes did melt, 245 

I will goe tell him of f aire Hermias flight : 

Then to the wood will he, to morrow night 

Purfue her ; and for his intelligence, 

If I haue thankes, it is a deere expence : 

But heerein meane I to enrich my paine, 250 

To haue his fight thither, and backe againe. Exit. 

Enter Quince the Carpenter, Snug the loyner, B otto me the [I. 2. 
Weauer, Flute the bellowes-mender, Snout the Tinker, and 
Starueling the Taylor. 

Quin. Is all our company heere ? 

Bot. You were befl; to call them generally, man by 
man, according to the fcrip. 

Qui. Here is the fcrowle of euery mans name, which 
is thought fit through all Athens, to play in our Enter- 5 
lude before the Duke and the Dutches, on his wedding 
day at night. 

Bot. Firft, good Peter Quince, fay what the play treats 
on : then read the names of the A6lors : and lb grow on 
to a point. 10 

Quiji. Marry our play is the moft lamentable Come- 
dy, and moft cruell death of Pyramus and Thisbie. 

Bot. A very good peece of worke I affure you, and a 
merry. Now good Peter Quince, call forth your A6tors [1472] 
by the fcrowle. Mafters fpread your felues. 15 

Quince. Anfwere as I call you. Nick Bottome the 
Weauer. 

Bottome. Ready; name what part I am for, and 
proceed. 

Quince. You Nicke Bottome are fet downe for Py- 20 
ramus. 

2« So, FR* boy, Loue, FR* 242 Yox, FR* eyen FR* 24S Hee FR* 
hayldFR* haild R othes, FR* 244 this] his R haile, R heate, FR* 
heate R -wza, FR* 245.foiued FR* fliowrs FR* ,]. FR* 246 go R 
24TThen, FR* wood] wodde, FR* night, FR* 248 .]. pR* his] this FR*R 
2*9 thanlis R deare FR*R expenfe FR* 25o herein FR* 26i back FR* 
Quince, F ,]; FR* and Snua;ge, FR* ,]; FR* and Bottom, FR* 
,]; FR* and Flute, FR* Bellowes mender FR* -lows R ,] ; FR* 
& Snout, FR* ,]; FR* -/^-r FR* ^Qnin.Y ^i6\om.V. fcrippe FR*R 
6 thoght R fit, FR* al FR* -lude, FR*R 6 Duke, FR* ^ night, R 
^,'\om.. FR*R Peeter FR* ^grow on] grow FR«R iiFR*R10 

Mary, FR* ^'^ -by YK* i^^orke, FR*R "^^ Peeter YW^ foorth R 
Aaors, FR* 15 Mafters, fpreade FR* is Anfwere, FR* Anfwer R 
-tom,Y^* 17.]? FR* is-die: FR* i^-ceede FR* 20 you, FR* 
Nick FR*R -to7n FR* 



1. 2. 22-65.] -^ Midfommer nights Dreame. 9 

Bot. What is Pyramus, a louer, or a tyrant ? 

^2/;z>?. A Louer that kills himfelfe moft gallantly for 
loue. 

Bot. That will aske fome teares in the true perfor- 25 
ming of it : if I do it, let the audience looke to their eies : 
I will mooue ftormes ; I will condole in fome meafure. 
To the reft yet, my chiefe humour is for a tyrant. I could 
play Ercles rarely, or a part to teare a Cat in, to make all 
fplit the raging Rocks ; and fhiuering fhocks Ihall break 30 
the locks of prifon gates, and Phibbus carre Ihall fhine 35 
from farre, and make and marre the fooliih Fates. This 
was lofty. Now name the reft of the Players. This 40 
is Ercles vaine, a tyrants vaine : a louer is more condo- 
ling. 

Qiii7i. Francis Flute the Bellowes-mender. 

Flu. Heere Peter Quince. 

Qicin. You muft take Thisbie on you. 45 

Flut. What is Thisbie, a wandring Knight ? 

Quin. It is the Lady that Pyramus muft loue. 

Flut. Nay faith, let not mee play a woman, I haue a 
beard comming. 

Qui. That's all one, you fhall play it in a Maske, and 50 
you may fpeake as fmall as you will. 

Bot. And I may hide my face, let me play Thisbie too : 
He fpeake in a monftrous little voyce ; Thifne, Thifne, ah 
Pyramus my louer deare, thy Thisbie deare, and Lady 
deare. 55 

Quin. No no, you muft play Pyramus, and Flute, you 
Thisby. 

Bot. Well, proceed. 

Qu. Robin Starueling the Taylor. 

Star. Heere Peter Quince. 60 

Quince. Robin Starueli?ig, you muft play Thisbies 
mother ? 

Tom Snowt, the Tinker. 

Snowt. Heere Peter Quince. 

Quill. You, Pyramus father ; my felf, Thisbies father ; 65 

22-/«wj?FR* 23kiisFR*R -felfe, FR* gallant, FR*R asperfourm- 
ing R 26.]. FR* ,R doe FR*R eyes FR*R 27^11 FR* moue R 
;]: FR* -dole, FR* 3i.]. p-R* 32fhocks, FR* ^Sbreake FR*R 
*0-tie FR* Now, FR* '^^ Flute, FR* Bellowes mender FR* .]? FR* 
*4 Here Peeier FR* 45 You] Flute, you FR* -by, FR* -by R ^ Fla. FR* 
-hyl FR*R *7Lady, FR* ^ ,\. FR* me FR*R woma: FR* 
*9c6-/ming FR* .]o;«. R soThats FR* al R ,]: FR* fhal R 
,]: FR* 52.^^ to FR*R 53 voice FR* ^-mus,^^^ -^jK FR*R 
66 No no,] No, no : FR* -mus : FR* " xhys- FR* ^s .ceede FR* 
69 -ling, FR* Tailer FR* Tailor R so Here Peeter FR* ei Thy/byes FR* 
62?]: FR*R 63FR11 SiiowteY .]? F 64 Here FR esfgifg FR 



lo A Midfommer nights Dreame, [I. 2. 66-102. 

Snugge the loyner, you the Lyons part : and I hope there 
is a play fitted. 

Snug. Haue you the Lions part written ? pray you if 
be, giue it me, for I am flow of ftudie. 

Qidn. You may doe it extemporie^ for it is nothing 70 
but roaring. 

Bot. Let mee play the Lyon too, I will roare that I 
will doe any mans heart good to heare me. I will roare, 
that I will make the Duke fay. Let him roare againe, let 
him roare againe, ye 

Quin. If you flaould doe it too terribly, you would 
fright the Dutchefle and the Ladies, that they would 
fhrike, and that were enough to hang vs all. 

All. That would hang vs euery mothers fonne. 

Bottome. I graunt you friends, if that you fhould 80 
fright the Ladies out of their Wittes, they would 
haue no more difcretion but to hang vs : but I will ag- 
grauate my voyce fo, that I will roare you as gently as 
any fucking Doue ; I will roare and 'twere any Nightin- 
gale. 85 

Quin. You can play no part but Piramus, for Bira- 
mus is a fweet-fac'd man, a proper man as one fliall fee in [148i] 
a fummers day ; a mofl; louely Gentleman-like man, ther- 
fore you muft needs play Piramus. 

Bot. Well, I will vndertake it. What beard were I 90 
bell to play it in .? 

Quin. Why, what you will. 

Bot. I will difcharge it, in either your flraw-colour 
beard, your orange tawnie beard, your purple in graine 
beard, or your French-crowne colour'd beard, your per- 95 
fe6l yellow. 

Quin. Some of your French Crownes haue no haire 
at all, and then you will play bare-fac'd. But maflers here 
are your parts, and I am to in treat you, requell you, and 
defire you, to con them by too morrow night : and meet 100 
me in the palace wood, a mile without the Towne, by 
Moone-light, there we will rehearfe : for if we meete in 

66 Snugge, F there] here FR esLyong pR you, F if] if it FR 
69 bee F mee : F flowe FR -dy R TodoR it, F -pore-.'F -pore,^ 
■2me R to. F roare, FR "do R mee F '?*say;F againe ; F 
again, R ^^ifjAndF do FR "-effe, F ^8,]:F inough F ^^vs, F 
sogrant FR you, F that]^wz. FR ^i^jts FR 82.tion, F ss voice F 
wil F -ly, F ^*;]: F roare] roare you, F roare you R t'were R 
86,]: F 87 fweete fac't F fweet fac't R ,]; F Ihal R »8 fommers FR 
-](7w. FR ,]: F there- FR s^needes F ^o,]: F 02j?F ^^wil F 
eyther R flraw colour F 9* -ny R bearde F 9^ french crowne colour FR 
perfit FR s^^]; FR bare fac't FR maifters F heere R ^^ entreat R 
10" defire / FR13 too] to F meete FR wimeeF "^ j. p will wee F 
wee F 



1. 2. 103-II. 1. 24.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 1 1 

the Citie, we Ihalbe dog'd with company, and our deui- 
fes knowne. In the meane time, I wil draw a bil of pro- 
perties, fuch as our play wants. I pray you faile me not. 105 

Bottovi, We will meete, and there we may rehearfe 
more obfcenely and couragioufly. Take paines, be per- 
fedl, adieu. 

Qum. At the Dukes oake we meete. 

Bot. Enough, hold or cut bow-ftrings. Exeunt no 



A6lus Secundus. 



Enter a Fairie at one doore, and Robin good- 
fellow at another. 

Rob. How now fpirit, whether wander you ? 

Fai. Ouer hil, ouer dale, through bufh, through briar, 
Ouer parke, ouer pale, through flood, through fire, 5 

I do wander euerie where, fwifter then y Moons fphere ; 
And I ferue the Fairy Queene, to dew her orbs vpon the 
The Cowflips tall, her penfioners bee, (green. 10 

In their gold coats, fpots you fee, 
Thofe be Rubies, Fairie fauors. 
In thofe freckles, liue their fauors, 
I muft go feeke fome dew drops heere. 

And hang a pearle in euery cowflips eare. 15 

Farewell thou Lob of fpirits. He be gon. 
Our Queene and all her Elues come heere anon. 

Rob. The King doth keepe his Reuels here to night, 
Take heed the Queene come not within his fight, 
For Oberon is pafsing fell and wrath, 20 

Becaufe that fhe, as her attendant, hath 
A louely boy ftolne from an Indian King, 
She neuer had fo fweet a changeling, 
And iealous Oberon would haue the childe 

103 city F Citty R wee F fhal be F Ihall be R dogd FR 
104 known F will FR bill FR losWeeF 107 more] moll F -ly, F 
cor-F bee F perfit FR io8,]:F io9Qnin F oke F wee F iio,]:F 
holde, F -]ow. F Adlus Secundus] om. FR 1 Enter F fairy R 
-]om.Y 1 whither F ^hiH FR 3 thorough bush, thorough F brier FR 
5 thorough flood, thorough fire : F ^guery FR ,]; F ^than F ;]: F 
9orbesR greene FR lO-flippesF ,]oot. F be R HfpottesF ,]: F 
12-bies. Fairy R fauours FR ,]: F i^fauours. F i*goe FR 

droppes F here FR i^couflippesF i^parwell R Lobbe F ,]: F 
gon. F gone, R "Queene, F here FR i^ heere R ,]. F i^heede F 
,]. F 20 J. F 22fl.ollen, F ftollen R ,]: F 23fweeteFR ,]. F 
24 childe, FR 



12 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [II. i. 25-59. 

Knight of his traine, to trace the Forrefls wilde. 25 

But Ihe (perforce) with-holds the loued boy, 

Crownes him with flowers, and makes him all her ioy. 

And now they neuer meete in groue, or greene. 

By fountaine cleere, or fpangled ftar-light Iheene, 

But they do fquare, that all their Elues for feare 30 

Creepe into Acorne cups and hide them there. 

Fai. Either I miftake your Ihape and making quite, 
Or elfe you are that Ihrew'd and knauifh fpirit 
Cal'd Robin Good-fellow. Are you not hee. 
That frights the maidens of the Villagree, 35 

Skim milke, and fometimes labour in the querne, 
And bootleffe make the breathleffe hufwife cherne, 
And fometime make the drinke to beare no barme, 
Milleade night-wanderers, laughing at their harme, [1482] 

Thofe that Hobgoblin call you, and fweet Pucke, 40 

You do their worke, and they fliall haue good lucke. 
Are not you he ? 

Rob. Thou fpeak'fl aright ; 
I am that merrie wanderer of the night : 
I left to Oberon, and make him fmile, 

When I a fat and beane-fed horfe beguile, 45 

Neighing in likeneffe of a filly foale, 
And fometime lurke I in a Goffips bole, 
In very likeneffe of a roafled crab : 
And when fhe drinkes, againft her lips I bob. 
And on her withered dewlop poure the Ale. 50 

The wifeft Aunt telling the faddeft tale. 
Sometime for three-foot floole, miftaketh me, 
Then flip I from her bum, downe topples Ihe, 
And tailour cries, and fals into a coffe. 

And then the whole quire hold their hips, and lofife, 55 

And waxen in their mirth, and neeze, and fwear^e, 
A merrier houre was neuer wafted there. 
But roome Fairy, heere comes Oberon. 

Fair. And heere my Miflris : 
Would that he were gone. 

26 fliee, perforce, F flie, perforce R witlih^iilds F 28 pRlS now, F 
29cleare F -'\om. FR 30doe F Elues, for feare, F ^icups, FR 
32 Ihape, and making, F ^3 gig p fhrewde F flirewd R fprite, F fpirit, R 
34 Cali'd FR -'\om. F you not] not you F 35 Villageree F 39 Miffelead F 
Mif-leadeR -]"'«• F harme ? F i" Thofe, F fweete Puck FR «doeF 
luck F 42 hee F fpeakeft F aright ; I — night./FR '^ -ry F :]. F , R 
44ieaft FR 45 j. pR 46Neyghirig, F filly fole F 47goffippes F 
48 rofted FR crabbe F :], FR ^^ dewlop, F ^i Aunt, F ^2 Sometime, F 
three foote, FR mee : F ^sflippeF bumme F ^icryesFR falles F .];F 
si'houldF hippes F somyrthF fweare,] fweare F ^''howerF 5SFaery:F 
hereFR sphere, F here R miftreffe FR :]. F gon./F gone./R 



II. I. 60-92.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 13 

Enter the King of Fairies at one doore with his traine, 
and the Queene at another with hers. 

Ob. Ill met by Moone-light, 
Proud Tytania. 60 

Qii. What, iealous Oberon ? Fairy skip hence. 
I haue forfworne his bed and companie. 

Ob. Tarrie rafh Wanton ; am not I thy Lord ? 

Qii. Then I muft be thy Lady : but I know 
When thou waft ftolne away from Fairy Land, 65 

And in the fliape of Corin, fate all day. 
Playing on pipes of Corne, and verfing loue 
To amorous Phillida. Why art thou heere 
Come from the fartheft fteepe of India ? 

But that forfooth the bouncing Amazon 70 

Your buskin'd Miftreffe, and your Warrior loue, 
To Thefeiis muft be Wedded ; and you come, 
To giue their bed ioy and profperitie. 

Ob. How canft thou thus for fhame Tytania^ 
Glance at my credite, with Hippolita ? 75 

Knowing I know thy loue to Thefeus ? 
Didft thou not leade him through the glimmering night 
From Peregenia, whom he rauifhed ? 
And make him with faire Eagles breake his faith 
With Ariadne, and Atiopa ? 80 

Que. Thefe are the forgeries of iealoufie. 
And neuer fmce the middle Summers fpring 
Met we on hil, in dale, forreft, or mead, 
By paued fountaine, or by rufhie brooke, 

Or in the beached margent of the fea, 85 

To dance our ringlets to the whiftling Winde, 
But with thy braules thou haft difturb'd our fport. 
Therefore the Windes, piping to vs in vaine. 
As in reuenge, haue fuck'd vp from the fea 
Contagious fogges : Which falling in the Land, 90 

Hath euerie petty Riuer made fo proud, 
That they haue ouer-borne their Continents. 

Fairies, F doore, F traine ; F Queene, at another, F 6" -^om. F 
-«/«./ FR 61FR14 fkippeF 62bedde,F -ny FR 63 Tarry, F Tarry R 
;]. F sitbyR 65 haft ftollen FR esfat FR STioue, FR 68 here FR 
fi^fteppe F ™that, forfooth, the bounfing Amason, F -zon, R 

TibuflcindFR warriour F ^Sbedde, F -ty R 7* thus, F Ihame, FR 
TSGlaunce F credit F ^6.ing, p ?]. FR "thou not] not thou FR 
leadF night, FR "^^ Perig-Yl^ 79 him, F Eagles, F ^^ AntiopaY'R. 
81,]: F «2 neuer, F Sommers fpring, FR ^shill FR forreft or R 
meadeF 84i.ufliyR sedaunceF s^brawlesFR difturbd FR s^pyp. pR 
89fucktFR vp, F Sea, FR 9" fogs; R which, F ^leuery pelting FR 
proudeF ^'^-\om.Y 



14 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [II. i. 93-130. 

The Oxe hath therefore ftretch'd his yoake in vaine, 

The Ploughman loft his fweat, and the greene Corne 

Hath rotted, ere his youth attain'd a beard : 95 

The fold ftands empty in the drowned field, 

And Crowes are fatted with the murrion flocke, 

The nine mens Morris is fild vp with mud, [149i] 

And the queint Mazes in the wanton greene, 

For lacke of tread are vndiftinguilhable. 100 

The humane mortals want their winter heere, 

No night is now with hymne or caroll bleft ; 

Therefore the Moone (the gouerneffe of floods) 

Pale in her anger, wafhes all the aire ; 

That Rheumaticke difeafes doe abound. 105 

And through this diftemperature, we fee 

The feafons alter ; hoared headed frofts 

Fall in the frefh lap of the crimfon Rofe, 

And on old Hyems chinne and Icie crowne, 

An odorous Chaplet of fweet Sommer buds 110 

Is as in mockry fet. The Spring, the Sommer, 

The childing Autumne, angry Winter change 

Their wonted Liueries, and the mazed world, 

By their increafe, now knowes not which is which ; 

And this fame progeny of euills, 115 

Comes from our debate, from our diffention, 

We are their parents and origin all. 

Ober. Do you amend it then, it lies in you, 
Why fhould Titania croffe her Oberofi ? 

I do but beg a little changeling boy, 120 

To be my Henchman. 

Qu. Set your heart at reft. 
The Fairy land buyes not the childe of me, 
His mother was a Votreffe of my Order, 
And in the fpiced I?idia?i aire, by night 

Full often hath fhe goffipt by my fide, 125 

And fat with me on Neptunes yellow fands, 
Marking th'embarked traders on the flood. 
When we haue laught to fee the failes conceiue, 
And grow big bellied with the wanton winde : 
Which fhe with pretty and with fwimming gate, 130 

93 (Iretcht FR yoke R ^^ attainde F attaind R bearde F 96 FR15 
empty, FR ^M- F sSmuddeiF 99 Mazes, F loo tread, FR ioi,].F 
io2hymmeR carroUFR ;]. F "^do R los And, thorough F wee F 
lOT;]: F hoary F losjappe F Crymfon F io9icyF nofweete FR 
buddes F i^Is, F mockery, F mockery R "3j. f worlde F "*;]:F 
iiSeuilsFR "«-tion:F "^DoeF ,]: F lyes FR ,]. F 120 doe F 
begge F 121^]. p 122 Faiery F buies FR mee F 123 j-f i24ayerF 
night, F 125 goffipt, F 126 fat, F ;\om.Y 127^]. f i28conceaue F 
I29bigge bellied, F :], R laopRie flie, with prettie, F 



II. I. 131-168.] A Midfommer nights Dreame, 15 

Following (her wombe then rich with my yong fquire) 

Would imitate, and faile vpon the Land, 

To fetch me trifles, and returne againe, 

As from a voyage, rich with merchandize. 

But fhe being mortall, of that boy did die, 135 

And for her fake I doe reare vp her boy. 

And for her fake I will not part with him. 

Ob. How long within this wood intend you flay? 

Qu. Perchance till after Thefeus wedding day. 
If you will patiently dance in our Round, 140 

And fee our Moone-Iight reuels, goe with vs ; 
If not, fhun me and I will fpare your haunts. 

Ob. Giue me that boy, and I will goe with thee. 

Qu. Not for thy Fairy Kingdome. Fairies away : 
We fhall chide downe right, if I longer flay. Exeunt. 145 

Ob. Wei, go thy way : thou fhalt not from this groue, 
Till I torment thee for this iniury. 
My gentle Pucke come hither ; thou remembreft 
Since once I fat vpon a promontory, 

And heard a Meare-maide on a Dolphins backe, 150 

Vttering fuch dulcet and harmonious breath, 
That the rude fea grew ciuill at her fong, 
And certaine flarres fhot madly from their Spheares, 
To heare the Sea-maids muficke. 

Piic. I remember. 

Ob. That very time I fay (but thou couldfl not) 155 

Flying betweene the cold Moone and the earth, 
Cupid all arm'd ; a certaine aime he tooke 
At a faire Veftall, throned by the Wefl;, 
And loos'd his loue-fhaft fmartly from his bow, 
As it fhould pierce a hundred thoufand hearts, 160 

But I might fee young Cupids fiery fhaft 
Quencht in the chafle beames of the watry Moone ; [1492] 
And the imperiall Votreffe paffed on. 
In maiden meditation, fancy free. 

Yet markt I where the bolt of Cupid ieW. 165 

It fell vpon a little wefterne flower ; 
Before, milke-white ; now purple with loues wound, 
And maidens call it, Loue in idleneffe. 

131 young FR i3imarchandifeF issfhe, F dye FR is^And, F fake, 
doe I F fake do I R ,]: F 13^ And, F fake, F 138 long, F wood, en- 
tend F 139 Perchaunce, F i*odaunceF i«->»?.F Reuelles F goR 
;]: F i*2fhunneme, F wsmeeF go R i**FairieR :]. F "^downe- 
rightF 1*6 Well FR ,]: F goe F :]. F lathee, F 1*8;]: F -breft, F 
ISO Mearemaide, F i^i herm- F i^^ grewe F 1^3 cettaine F i^^ time, I 
faw F could'ft F isscolde FR '^^^ Ciepid, F ;]: F ^^^ the'] om. FR 
159 fmartly, F bowe F isopearce F ,]: F isiBut, F I62chaft F ;]: F 
164FR17 1651^ F fei R levmiike white F purple, F 



1 6 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [II. i. 169-202. 

Fetch me that flower ; the hearb I fhew'd thee once, 

The iuyce of it, on fleeping eye-lids laid, 170 

Will make or man or woman madly dote 

Vpon the next hue creature that it fees. 

Fetch me this hearbe, and be thou heere againe, 

Ere the Leuiathan can fwim a league. 

Pucke. He put a girdle about the earth, in forty mi- 175 
nutes. 

Ober. Hauing once this iuyce, 
He watch Titajiia, when fhe is afleepe. 
And drop the liquor of it in her eyes : 
The next thing when fhe waking lookes vpon, 
(Be it on Lyon, Beare, or Wolfe, or Bull, 180 

On medling Monkey, or on bufie Ape) 
Shee Ihall purfue it, with the foule of loue. 
And ere I take this charme off from her fight, 
(As I can take it with another hearbe) 

lie make her render vp her Page to me. 185 

But who comes heere ? I am inuifible. 
And I will ouer-heare their conference. 

Enter Demetrius, Helena following him. 

Deme. I loue thee not, therefore purfue me not, 
Where is Lyfander, and faire Hermia ? 

The one He flay, the other ftayeth me. 190 

Thou toldfl me they were ftolne into this wood; 
And heere am I, and wood within this wood, 
Becaufe I cannot meet my Hermia. 
Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more. 

Hel. You draw me, you hard-hearted Adamant, 195 

But yet you draw not Iron, for my heart 
Is true as fteele. Leaue you your power to draw. 
And I Ihall haue no power to follow you. 

Deme. Do I entice you ? do I fpeake you faire t 
Or rather doe I not in plaineft truth, 200 

Tell you I doe not, nor I cannot loue you ? 

Hel. And euen for that doe I loue thee the more ; 

169 mee F flowre : F herbe F fliewed F ,]. F "» iewce F eyeliddes F 
laide FR i^i dote, F i^s mee F herbe F here FR ,^om. F i^* fwimme F 
1'^ girdle, roud about F ^^^iuice F i" when] whence R a fleepe F 
"8 droppe F it, F i™ when] then F Ihe, waking, F ,]ot«. F l^i Monky F 
182 She FR i83charme, from of F ,'\om.Y is* herbe F issPage, F 
mee F i^SBiit, F here F i"-]^w.F i^s not : there- F not. F 
189,]^/^/. R 190,]: F 191 me, F into] vnto FR ;]: F 192 here FR 
wodde, within this wood : F 193 meete FR 19* thee] the F mee F 
195 mee F hard hearted F ,]: F "^ ,]. F 198FR18 199 Doe I entife F 
Doe F 20Q do R truthe F 23i do R nor] not FR 202 euen, for that, F 
do FR thee] you, F ;]: F 



II. I. 203-239.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 17 

I am your fpaniell, and Demetrius, 

The more you beat me, I will fawne on you. 

Vfe me but as your fpaniell ; fpurne me, ftrike me, 205 

Negleft me, lofe me ; onely giue me leaue 

(Vnworthy as I am) to follow you. 

What worfer place can I beg in your loue, 

(And yet a place of high refpe(5t with me) 

Then to be vfed as you doe your dogge. 210 

Dent. Tempt not too much the hatred of my fpirit, 
For I am ficke when I do looke on thee. 

Hel. And I am ficke when I looke not on you. 

Dem. You doe impeach your modefly too much, 
To leaue the Citty, and commit your felfe 215 

Into the hands of one that loues you not, 
To truft the opportunity of night, 
And the ill counfell of a defert place, 
With the rich worth of your virginity. 

Hel. Your vertue is my priuiledge : for that 220 

It is not night when I doe fee your face. 
Therefore I thinke I am not in the night. 
Nor doth this wood lacke worlds of company, 
For you in my refpe6l are nil the world. [150^] 

Then how can it be faid I am alone, 225 

When all the world is heere to looke on me ? 

Dem. He run from thee, and hide me in the brakes, 
And leaue thee to the mercy of wilde beafts. 

Hel. The wildeft hath not fuch a heart as you ; 
Runne when you will, the ftory fhall be chang'd : 230 

Apollo flies, and Daphne holds the chafe ; 
The Done purfues the Griffin, the milde Hinde 
Makes fpeed to catch the Tyger. Bootleffe fpeede, 
When cowardife purfues, and valour flies. 

Demet. I will not flay thy queflions, let me go j 235 

Or if thou follow me, doe not beleeue, 
But I fhall doe thee mifchiefe in the wood. 

Hel. I, in the Temple, in the Towne, and Field 
You doe me mifchiefe. Fye Demetrius, 

233-ell: and, F 204beateR mee F 205.]. p ftrike mee, F so^mee, 
loofeme:F leave R 207.thieF ^^'^\,&gge,Y ,]om.F 209 yet, F 
mee F 210 doe] vfe FR dog R 211 not, too much, F ,]. F 2i2fick,F 
2i3fick, F 214 do R -tieF 2i5citie F felfe, F 217 .tie F 219 .tie F 
221 night, F doR 222 Therefore, I thinke, F 223 j. p 224 you, F 
refpea, F nil] all FR 225 Then, F faide, F 226 here, F here R mee F 
22V runne F 228beaftesF 229.]. p 230 ^j.p chaung'd FR 231 flygg R 
,]<?/«. F DapknaR ;]: F 232.fon:F -fen, R 233FR19 fpeede F 
TigreFTygreR Bootel- F 234 yalor flyes R 235 j. p goe : F 236 fol. 
lowe mee F do FR 237 do R -chiefe, F 238 and] the F fielde, F 
239 do R FyF ,]. F 



1 8 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [II. i. 240-2. 6. 

Your wrongs doe fet a fcandall on my fexe : 240 

We cannot fight for loue, as men may doe ; 
We fhould be woo'd, and were not made to wooe. 
I follow thee, and make a heauen of hell, 
To die vpon the hand I loue fo well. Exit. 

Ob. Fare thee well Nymph, ere he do leaue this groue, 245 
Thou fhalt flie him, and he (hall feeke thy loue. 
Haft thou the flower there ? Welcome wanderer. 

Enter Fucke. 

Puck. I, there it is. 

Ob. I pray thee giue it me. 
I know a banke where the wilde time blowes, 
Where Oxflips and the nodding Violet growes, 250 

Quite ouer-cannoped with lufcious woodbine. 
With fweet muske rofes, and with Eglantine ; 
There fleepes Tytania, fometime of the night, 
Lul'd in thefe flowers, with dances and delight : 
And there the fnake throwes her enammel'd skinne, 255 

Weed wide enough to rap a Fairy in. 
And with the iuyce of this He ftreake her eyes, 
And make her full of hatefuU fantafies. 
Take thou fome of it, and feek through this groue ; 
A fweet Athenian Lady is in loue 260 

With a difdainefull youth : annoint his eyes, 
But doe it when the next thing he efpies, 
May be the Lady. Thou fhalt know the man. 
By the Athenian garments he hath on. 

Effe6t it with fome care, that he may proue 265 

More fond on her, then fhe vpon her loue ; 
And looke thou meet me ere the firft Cocke crow. 

Pu. Feare not my Lord, your feruant fhall do fo. Exit. 

Enter Qiteene of Fairies^ with her traine. [II. 2. 

Queen. Come, now a Roundell, and a Fairy fong ; 
Then for the third part of a minute hence. 
Some to kill Cankers in the muske rofe buds, 
Some warre with Reremife, for their leathern wings, 
To make my fmall Elues coates, and fome keepe backe 5 

The clamorous Owle that nightly hoots and wonders 

240 do R fexFR 24idoR ;]: F 243i]iieFR thee and FR 244 dyP 
dye R Exit\ om. F 245 Nymph. F 246 fly f flye R 248 mee F 25o Qx- 
lips, F 251 ouercanopi'd F ouercanoped R lufhious FR 252 fwreete FR 
;]: F 254LuldFR daunces F 255.nield FR 256 rap] wrappe F 
267 And, F this, FR 258phan-F 259feekeFR ;]: F 260fweeteFR 
loue, F 261 J. F 262 do R it, F 2G3Ladie F 265j.f prooue FR 
266FR20 ;]: F 267ineete FR crowe F 268 j. f Exeunt FR 
Quee7te\Tyizn\3. Quee7te Y ^;]:F 2'rhen, F ^musk F *lethren F 
6 Owle, FR hootes FR 



II. 2. 7-42.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 19 

At our queint fpirits : Sing me now afleepe, 
Then to your offices, and let me reft. 

Fairies Sing. 

You /potted Snakes with double tongue^ 

Thorny Hedgehogges be notfeene, 10 

Newts and blinde wormes do no wrong. 

Come not neere our Fairy Queene. 

Philomele with melodie, 

Sing in yourfweet Lullaby, [150^] 

Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby, 15 

Neuer harnie, nor fp ell, nor charme. 

Come our louely Lady nye. 

So good night with Lullaby. 

2. Fairy. Weauing Spiders come not heere, 20 

Hence you long leg'd Spimiers, hence : 
Beetles blacke approach not neere ; 
Worme nor Sftayle doe no offence. 
Fhilomele with melody, 6^^. 

I. Fairy. Hence away, now all is well ; 25 

One aloof e,Jland Centinell. Shee Jleepes. 

Enter Oberon. 

Ober. WJiat thou feeft when thou doft wake, 
Doe it for thy true Loue take : 
Loue and languifh for his fake. 

Be it Ounce, or Catte, or Beare, 30 

Pard, or Boare with briftled haire, 
In thy eye that fhall appeare, 
When thou wak'ft, it is thy dear^, 
Wake when fome vile thing is neere. 

Enter Lifander and Hermia. 

Lif. Faire loue, you faint with wandring in y woods, 35 
And to fpeake troth I haue forgot our way : 
Wee'll reft vs Hermia, if you thinke it good. 
And tarry for the comfort of the day. 

Ber. Be it fo Lyfander ; finde you out a bed. 
For I vpon this banke will reft my head. 4° 

Ly/. One turfe fhall ferue as pillow for vs both, 
One heart, one bed, two bofomes, and one troth. 

' a fleepe : F « mee F ^ Snakes, F " blindewormes F ,]om. R 
^^'mete,F -dy FR i* your] our FR {weete F fweeU R "nigh F 
,]. FR 18 night, F 20 2.]i. FR ,]: F 21 legd FR Spinders R 
'^approch R ;]: F 23fnaile F do R 25 1.] 2. FR ,]: F ;]: F 
"^^ Shee pepes\om. FR 27feeft, F doeft F 28D0R thy] thy thy R 
31FR21 33 J. F 34 Wake, F Lys- FR -der : F 35fainte, F wood : F 
36:]. F 37Weele F Wee'l R 38comfor F 39 Be] Bet F ;]: F 
bedderF ^oj, p banke, F "turffeR ferue, as pillow, F *25edde F 



20 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [II. 2. 43-78. 

Her. Nay good Ly/ander, for my fake my deere 
Lie further off yet, doe not lie fo neere, 

Lyf. O take the fence fweet, of my innocence, 45 

Loue takes the meaning, in loues conference, 
I meane that my heart vnto yours is knit, 
So that but one heart can you make of it. 
Two bofomes interchanged with an oath, 
So then two bofomes, and a fmgle troth. 50 

Then by your fide, no bed-roome me deny, 
For lying fo, Hermia, I doe not lye. 

Her. Ly/ander riddles very prettily ; 
Now much befhrew my manners and my pride, 
If Hermia meant to fay^ Ly/ander lied. 55 

But gentle friend, for loue and courtefie 
Lie further off, in humane modeft)'-. 
Such feparation, as may well be faid. 
Becomes a vertuous batchelour, and a maide. 
So farre be diftant, and good night fweet friend ; 60 

Thy loue nere alter, till thy fweet life end. 

Ly/. Amen, amen, to that faire prayer, fay I, 
And then end life, when I end loyalty : 
Heere is my bed, fleepe giue thee all his reft. 

Her. With halfe that wifh, the wifhers eyes be preft. 65 

Enter Pucke. They/leepe. 

Puck. Through the Forreft haue I gone, 
But Atke?iian finde I none. 
One whofe eyes I might approue 
This flowers force in ftirring loue. 

Night and filence : who is heere ? 70 

Weedes of Athens he doth weare : 
This is he (my mafter faid) 
Defpifed the Athenian maide : 
And heere the maiden fleeping found, 

On the danke and durty ground. 75 [151^] 

Pretty foule, fhe durft not lye 
Neere this lacke-loue, this kill-curtefie. 
Churle, vpon thy eyes I throw 

13 good] god F ,]: F fake, F deare R 44LyF off, yet ; F do R 
lye F 4ftfenfe, F fweete FR -cence. F ^s.^ence. F is]itF ,]; F 
*^can you] wee can F we can R .]: F *^ interchained FR ,]: F 
61 Then, F deny : F 52^0 R 53j]. F ^ibelhrewe F -ners, F 55iyed F 
Becurtefie, F 57 Ly p j. p 58 faid,] faid F 59.eler F -ellor R 
fio fweete F ;]: F 61,]oot. FR fweete FR ende R 62pj-aier R 
esioialty R :]. F 64j. p espRgg They Jleepe^,om. Y^ 6^]: F 
«' finde] found F S8 0ne]OnFR eies R ^ .]. p va^ee F faide F 
7* here F -en, F ^s dirty FR ^6 fowle F lye, F " lack-loue F lack loue R 
kil-curtefie F ''^ throwe F 



II. 2. 79-1 13-] -^ Mid/ommer nights Dreame. 21 

All the power this charme doth owe : 

When thou wak'ft, let loue forbid 80 

Sleepe his feate on thy eye-lid. 

So awake when I am gone : 

For I mull now to Oberon. Exit. 

Ejifer Demetrius and Helena running. 

Hel. Stay, though thou kill me, fweete Demetrius. 

De. I charge thee hence, and do not haunt me thus. 85 

Hel. O wilt thou darkling leaue me ? do not fo. 

De. Stay on thy perill, I alone will goe. 

Exit Demetrius. 

Hel. O I am out of breath, in this fond chace. 
The more my prayer, the leffer is my grace, 
Happy is Hermia, wherefoere fhe lies ; go 

For fhe hath bleffed and attraftiue eyes. 
How came her eyes fo bright ? Not with fait teares. 
If fo, my eyes are oftner wafht then hers. 
No, no, I am as vgly as a Beare ; 

For beafts that meete me, runne away for feare, 95 

Therefore no maruaile, though Demetrius 
Doe as a monfter, flie my prefence thus. 
What wicked and diffembling glaffe of mine, 
Made me compare with Hennias fphery eyne ? 
But who is here ? Lyfander on the ground ; 100 

Deade or afleepe ? 1 fee no bloud, no wound, 
Lyfander, if you liue, good fir awake. 

Lyf. And run through fire I will for thy fweet fake. 
Tranfparent Helena, nature her fhewes art. 
That through thy bofome makes me fee thy heart. 105 

Where is Demetrius ? oh how fit a word 
Is that vile name, to perifli on my fword ! 

Hel. Do not fay fo Lyfander, fay not fo : 
What though he loue your Hermia ? Lord, what though "i 
Yet Hermia still loues you ; then be content. no 

Lyf Content with Hermia ? No, I do repent 
The tedious minutes I with her haue fpent. 
Not Hermia, but Helena now I loue ; 

80 forbidde F »! Sleepe, F feat, F feate, R eye lidde F ^2 awake, F 
gon F 84 J. Y mee F 85 doe F mee F 86 q, F doe F 87 stay, F 
,]: F Exit Demetriics^om.Y'^ 889, F chafe FR sgpj-aierR grace. FR 
s-^-pJeF ;]: F 9i-ed, F sSgies R 9*no:IF ;]: F 95 bgaftes F 
mee F away, F ,]. F 96 .fore, F 97 poe, F Do R fly F -ence, F 
98FR23 glaffe, F 99eyen ! F 100 But, F ?], R -der, ¥ grouud R 
;]?FR iWDead, F Dead R a fleepe F blood, FR ,]. F ^^ runne F 
fire, F fweete F "* -rant R her] om. FR arte FR ^s bofome, F 
lo^worde F wsfo, F fo. F "»;].: F "iNo : I doe F "2 minutes, F 
113 now] ow. F ;]. F 



22 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [II. 2. 114-151. 

Who will not change a Rauen for a Doue ? 

The will of man is by his reafon fway'd : 115 

And reafon faies you are the worthier Maide. 

Things growing are not ripe vntill their feafon ; 

So I being yong, till now ripe not to reafon, 

And touching now the point of humane skill, 

Reafon becomes the Marfhall to my will, 120 

And leades me to your eyes, where I orelooke 

Loues flories, written in Loues richeft booke. 

Hel. Wherefore was I to this keene mockery borne ? 
When at your hands did I deferue this fcorne ? 
Ift not enough, ifl not enough, yong man, 125 

That I did neuer, no nor neuer can, 
Deferue a fweete looke from Demetrius eye, 
But you muft flout my infufificiency ? 
Good troth you do me wrong (good-footh you do) 
In fuch difdainfull manner, me to wooe. 130 

But fare you well ; perforce I muft confeffe, 
I thought you Lord of more true gentleneffe. 
Oh, that a Lady of one man refus'd, 
Should of another therefore be abus'd. Exit. 

Lyf. She fees not Hermia : Hermia fleepe thou there, 135 
And neuer maift thou come Lyfander neere ; 
For as a furfeit of the fweeteft things [1512] 

The deepeft loathing to the ftomacke brings : 
Or as the herefies that men do leaue. 

Are hated moft of thofe that did deceiue : 140 

So thou, my furfeit, and my herefie, 
Of all be hated ; but the moft of me ; 
And all my powers addreffe your loue and might, 
To honour Hele7i, and to be her Knight. Exit. 

Her. Helpe me Ly/a?ider, helpe me ; do thy beft 145 

To plucke this crawling ferpent from my breft. 
Aye me, for pitty ; what a dreame was here ? 
Lyfander looke, how I do quake with feare : 
Me-thought a ferpent eate my heart away. 
And yet fat fmiling at his cruell prey. 150 

Lyfander, what remoou'd ? Lyfander, Lord, 

lisfwai'd FR usmaid R i"ripe, F ;]: F "8 1, F young FR 
,]. F 119 now, F 121 leads FR mee F ,]; F 124 When, F hands, F 
i25young FR 128-cency R i29doe mee F good footh F doe F 

133 mee F isiBut, F ;]: F perforce, F 133FR24 O F Ladie, F 

134 Should, of another, F .]! F 135.-]. F -»?/«, FR 136;].F 13^ For, F 
furfet FR i38-ing, F bringes F :]; R 139 Or, F -fies, F doe F 
1*0 that] they FR i" furfet FR 1*2 bee F moft, of mee : F "^mee F 
mee : F 1*6 pluck F -pent, F i«AymeeF -tie. F "^doe F :]. F 
1*9 Me thought F i53yet]youFR fate F pray F I5i,]w«. F what, 
remou'd F 



II. 2. 152-III. 1. 26.] A Midfommernights Dreame. 23 

What, out of hearing, gone ? No found, no word ? 

Alacke where are you ? fpeake and if you heare : 

Speake of all loues ; I found almofl with feare. 

No, then I well perceiue you are not nye, 155 

Either death or you He finde immediately. Exit. 



A^us Tertius. 



Enter the Clownes. 

Bot. Are we all met ? 

Qiii7i. Pat, pat, and here's a maruailous conuenient 
place for our rehearfall. This greene plot fhall be our 
flage, this hauthorne brake our tyring houfe, and we will 
do it in adtion, as we will do it before the Duke. 5 

Bot. Peter quince ? 

Peter. What faift thou, bully Bottomet 

Bot. There are things in this Comedy of Piramus and 
Thisby, that will neuer pleafe. Firft, Piramus mufl draw a 
fword to kill himfelfe ; which the Ladies cannot abide. 10 
How anfwere you that ? 

Snout. Berlaken, a parlous feare. 

Star. I beleeue we mufl leaue the killing out, when 
all is done. 

Bot. Not a whit, I haue a deuice to make all well. 15 
Write me a Prologue, and let the Prologue feeme to fay, 
we will do no harme with our fwords, and that Pyramus 
is not kill'd indeede : and for the more better affurance, 
tell them, that I Piramus am not Piramus, but Bottome the 
Weauer ; this will put them out of feare. 20 

Qiiin. Well, we will haue fuch a Prologue, and it fhall 
be written in eight and fixe. 

Bot. No, make it two more, let it be written in eight 
and eight. 

Snout. Will not the Ladies be afear'd of the Lyon "i 25 

Star. I feare it, I promife you. 

i52gonF 153 Speake, F- :];FR i54Speake, F ;]. F ; R found] 
swoune F fwound R ^^^ perceiue, F ny : F ^^s Eyther R death, or 
you, F Adlus Tertius :\ om. FR i wee F ^ p^t, pat : F heres FR 
maruailes F ^pia^e, F ^wee F ^ doe FR wee F doe F ^PeeterY 
T faieft F bully, Bottom F 8 .gdy, F Pyr- F 9 Pyr- F 1° fworde, F 
Ladyes R "FR25 anfwer R is.kJnF is beleeue, F -ling, F i^,]: F 
deuifeF i6fay;F "wee R wil F harme, F i^kild FR indeed R 
i^telF ,>w. R Pyr-Y Pyr-Y -torn ¥ ^o.i. p 21 Well : wee F 
22 fix F 23 J. F ,]:F 25afeardFR 



24 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [III. i. 27-63. 

Bot. Mailers, you ought to confider with your felues, to 
bring in (God fliield vs) a Lyon among Ladies, is a moft 
dreadful! thing. For there is not a more fearefull wilde 
foule then your Lyon liuing : and wee ought to looke 30 
to it. 

Snout. Therefore another Prologue muft tell he is not 
a Lyon. 

Bot. Nay, you mufl name his name, and halfe his face 
muft be feene through the Lyons necke, and he himfelfe 35 
muft fpeake through, faying thus, or to the fame defe(5l ; 
Ladies, or faire Ladies, I would wifh you, or I would 
requefl you, or I would entreat you, not to feare, not to [152^] 
tremble : my life for yours. If you thinke I come hither 
as a Lyon, it were pitty of my life. No, I am no fuch 40 
thing, I am a man as other men are; and there indeed let 
him name his name, and tell him plainly hee is Snug the 
ioyner. 

Quin. Well, it fliall be fo ; but there is two hard 
things, that is, to bring the Moone-light into a cham- 45 
ber : for you know, Piramus and Thisby meete by Moone- 
light. 

Sn. Doth the Moone ihine that night wee play our 
play ? 

Bot. A Calender, a Calender, looke in the Almanack, 50 
finde out Moone-lhine, finde out Moone-lhine. 

Enter Piuke. 

Quin. Yes, it doth fhine that night. 

Bot. Why then may you leaue a cafement of the great 
chamber window (where we play) open, and the Moone 
may fhine in at the cafement. 55 

Quin. I, or elfe one mufl come in with a bufh of thorns 
and a lanthorne, and fay he comes to disfigure, or to pre- 
fent the perfon of Moone-lhine. Then there is another 
thing, we muft haue a wall in the great Chamber ; for Pi- 
ramus and Thisby (faies the ftory) did talke through the 60 
chinke of a wall. 

Sn. You can neuer bring in a wall. What fay you 
Bottome ? 

27 felfe FR 28 {hielde F 3C> fowle R we FR 31 toote. F 32 Therf ore, F 
tel, F 33 Lion F 3iNay:F ssLJons F hee R 36deffea R ss^old 
intreatF 39hetherR ^O-tieF No : F ",]:F ;]: F indeed, F 
^ tell him] tell them FR plainely F he FR Snug^e,Y ^S]: F ;]: F 
« things : F '^ Pyr- F *« fhine, that night, F we FR so fr26 -der: 
looke F -ack : F 61 Moonefhine. R Eiiter Pticke.] om. FR ^2 Yes : F 
^^Bot:\ Cet. F then, F 6i^]. p ssj . or els, F in, F thorns, FR 
SHaternF e^Then, F ^^]; F wal F ;]: F Pyr-Y ea^alF 
^^-tom F 



III. I. 64-98.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 25 

Bot. Some man or other muft prefent wall, and let 
him haue feme Plafter, or fome Lome, or fome rough 65 
call about him, to fignifie wall ; or let him hold his fin- 
gers thus ; and through that cranny, Ihall Piramus and 
Thisby whifper. 

Quin. If that may be, then all is well. Come, fit 
downe eueiy mothers fonne, and rehearfe your parts. 70 
Firanms^ you begin; when you haue fpoken your fpeech, 
enter into that Brake, and fo euery one according to his 
cue. 

Enter Robin. 

Rob. What hempen home-fpuns haue we fwagge- 
ring here, 
So neere the Cradle of the Faierie Queene ? 75 

What, a Play toward ? He be an auditor, 
An A6tor too perhaps, if I fee caufe. 

Quin. Speake Piramus : Thisby Hand forth. 

Pir. Thisby, the flowers of odious fauors fweete. 

Quin. Odours, odours. 80 

Pir. Odours fauors fweete, 
So hath thy breath, my deareft Thisby deare. 
But harke, a voyce : flay thou but here a while, 
And by and by I will to thee appeare. Exit. Pir. 

Piuk. A flranger Piramus, then ere plaid here. 85 

Thif. Muft I fpeake now ? 

Pet. I marry muft you. For you muft vnderftand he 
goes but to fee a noyfe that he heard, and is to come a- 
gaine. 

Thyf. Moft radiant Piramus, moft Lilly white of hue, 90 
Of colour like the red rofe on triumphant bryer, 
Moft brisky luuenall, and eke moft louely lew. 
As true as trueft horfe, that yet would neuer tyre, 
He meete thee Ptratmis, at JSfinnies toombe. 

Pet. Ninus toombe man : why, you muft not fpeake 95 
that yet ; that you anfwere to Piramus : you fpeake all 
your part at once, cues and all. Piramus enter, your cue is 
paft ; it is neuer tyre. 

6*,]: F esfomlomeF 66 caft, F holde F 67.]. p cxTm^Y Pyr-Y 
™ reherfe F 'i Pyr- F beginne : F "f* homefpunnes F swaggring FR 
■^5 Fairy FR "toF-happesF "^^Pyr-Y :], R ThyfbyY '^'^ ;\om.Y 
fauours F 80 odours, odorous. FR ^ifauours F ,]. F ^^yoiceF 
heere FR ^ Pir:\oTn.Y^ ^^ Puck.lQuiit.YR Pyr-Y played heere F 
87FR27 Pet:\Quin.Y -ftad, F ^^xio^iQ,Y ^<^ Pyr- Y lillie F hewe F 
9iredrofe, F s^eeke F lewe F ^^ Pyr- Y toumbe Y ^^ Pet.} Qum. Y 
toumbe, man. F ,]? Y om.Yi fpeake/That F 96 .], p anfwer R 
Pyramus.Y fpeake /Al F ^'^ cues, and, F al R Pyramus,Y ,1: F 
98;]: F is; F tire F 



26 A Midfommer nights Dreame, [III. i. 99-130. 

Thyf. O, as true as trueft horfe, that yet would neuer 
tyre : 

Fir. If I were faire, Thisby I were onely thine. 100 [1522] 

Fet. O monftrous. O llrange. We are hanted ; pray 
maflers, flye mailers, helpe. 

The Clownes all Exit. 

Fuk. He follow you, He leade you about a Round, 
Through bogge, through bufh, through brake, through 
Sometime a horfe lie be, fometime a hound : (bryer, 105 

A hogge, a headleffe beare, fometime a fire, 
And neigh, and barke, and grunt, and rore, and burne. 
Like horfe, hound, hog, beare, fire, at euery turne. Exit. 

Enter Firamus with the AJjfe head. 

Bot. Why do they run away .? This is a knauery of 
them to make me afeard. Enter Snowt. no 

S7t. O Bottom, thou art chang'd ; What doe I fee on 
thee "i 

Bot. What do you fee ? You fee an Affe-head of your 
owne, do you t 

Enter Feter Quince. 

Fet. Bleffe thee Bottome, blefTe thee; thou art tranfla- 115 
ted. Exit. 

Bot. I fee their knauery; this is to make an affe of me, 
to fright me if they could; but I will not ftirre from 
this place, do what they can, I will walke vp and downe 
here, and I will fing that they Ihall heare I am not a- 120 
fraid. 

The Woofell cocke, fo blacke of hew, 
With Orenge-tawny bill. 
The Throftle, with his note fo true. 
The Wren and little quill. 125 

Tyta. What Angell wakes me from my flowry bed ? 

Bot. The Finch, the Sparrow, and the Larke, 
The plainfong Cuckow gray ; 
Whole note full many a man doth marke, 
And dares not anfwere, nay. 130 

99.-]. FR 100 Tky/by, F wi/VA] Quin. F .]! F .]! F haunted FR 
;]. F 102^]. F fly IT ,]: F The Clowjies all exit.] om.YK ^'^^ Puk.l 
Rob. FR you : He F lo* bryer,] bryer : F bryer R !"& fome- FR ;], FR 
lo^ headeleffe F fier F '^'^^ hogge F Enter Firamus with the AJffe head.] 
om.YK 109 doe F runne F nomee F Snowte F i^chaung'd. F 
do FR "3 doe F Affe head FR "* own R ,]. FR Feter] om. F 
"5/V/.] Quin. F 'torn F ;]. F "■ ;]. F mee F i^me, F ;]: F wU F 
ftirR i20heereFR afraide F 122 cock F hewe F I23 0range 
tawny bill, FR i24 fr28 125 Wren, F and] with FR 127 Fynch F 
-rowe F 128 .j. f 129 note, F laoanfwer R 



III. I. 131-163.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 27 

For indeede, who would fet his wit to fo foolifh a bird ? 
Who would giue a bird the lye, though he cry Cuckow, 
neuer fo ? 

Tyta. I pray thee gentle mortall, fing againe, 
Mine eare is much enamored of thy note ; 135 

On the firft view to fay, to fweare I loue thee. 
So is mine eye enthralled to thy fhape, 
And thy faire vertues force (perforce) doth moue me. 

Bot. Me-thinkes miftreffe, you fliould haue little 
reafon for that: and yet to fay the truth, reafon and 140 
loue keepe little company together, now-adayes. 
The more the pittie, that fome honeft neighbours will 
not make them friends. Nay, I can gleeke vpon occa- 
fion. 

Tyta. Thou art as wife, as thou art beautifull. 145 

Bot. Not fo neither: but if I had wit enough to get 
out of this wood, I haue enough to ferue mine owne 
turne. 

Tyta. Out of this wood, do not defire to goe, 
Thou Ihalt remaine here, whether thou wilt or no. 150 

I am a fpirit of no common rate : 
The Summer ftill doth tend vpon my flate, 
And I doe loue thee ; therefore goe with me. 
He giue thee Fairies to attend on thee ; 

And they fhall fetch thee Jewels from the deepe, 155 

And fmg, while thou on preffed flowers doll fleepe : 
And I will purge thy mortall groffeneffe fo. 
That thou Ihalt like an airie fpirit go. 

Enter Pcafe-bloffome, Cobweb, Moth, Mujlard- 
feede, andfoure Fairies. 

Fai. Ready; and I, and I, and I, Where fhall we go? 

Tita. Be kinde and curteous to this Gentleman, 160 [151^] 
Hop in his walkes, and gambole in his eies, 
Feede him with Apricocks, and Dewberries, 
With purple Grapes, greene Figs, and Mulberries, 

131 indeed R birde F i321y F hee F 13* thee, F againe. F 
i35Myne F enamoured F ;]: F i*^"^ So is mine eye enthralled to thy 
fhape,/And thy faire vertues force (perforce) dothmooue me, /On the firft 
viewe to fay, to fweare, I loue thee. F i^^.], R i^^Mee thinks F Me- 
thinks R i*^ :]. F yet, F i" now a daies F now adayes R i*^ -ty FR 
1*3,]^^. FR gleeke, F "^ owne] owe F "Moe F ,]:F i^i fpirit, F 
152 Sommer, F Sommer R ftill, F 1^3 do R ;]: F go R mee. F 
154.]. F 155 Jewels, F issthou, F flowers, F issflialt, F ayery F 
ayry R fpirit, goe F Enter Peafe-bloJJome, Cobweb, Moth, Mujlard- 

feede, and fotcre Fairies.'] Pea/e-bloJJome, Cobweb, Moth, and Mujlard-feede'i / 
Enter fojcre Fairy es. F Peafe-blojfome, Cobweb, Moth, and Miijlard-feed. / 
Enter foure Fairies. R 159 FR29 Fai:\ Fairies. F Readie : F I, Where] 
i. Where FR goe F leieyes F issfigges F 



28 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [III. 1. 164-2. i. 

The honie-bags fteale from the humble Bees, 

And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighes, 165 

And light them at the iierie-Glow-wormes eyes, 

To haue my loue to bed, and to arife : 

And plucke the wings from painted Butterflies, 

To fan the Moone-beames from his fleeping eies. 

Nod to him Elues, and doe him curtefies. 170 

1. Fai. Haile mortall, haile. 

2. Fai. Haile. 

3. Fai. Haile. 

Bot. I cry your worlhips mercy hartily; I befeech 
your worlliips name. 175 

Cob. Cobweb. 

Bot. I fhall defire you of more acquaintance, good 
Mafter Cobweb-, if I cut my finger, I Ihall make bold 
with you. 
Your name honeft Gentleman ? 180 

Peaf. Peafe blojjbme. 

Bot, I pray you commend mee to miftreffe SquaJJi, 
your mother, and to mafter Pea/cod your father. Good 
mailer Pea/e-blojjfojfie, I flial defire of you more acquain- 
tance to. Your name I befeech you fir .-* 185 

Muf. Mujiard-Jeede. 

Peaf. Peafe-bloJJbme. 

Bot. Good mafter Mujlard feede, I know your pati- 
ence well : that fame cowardly gyant-like Oxe-beefe 
hath deuoured many a gentleman of your houfe. I pro- 190 
mife you, your kindred hath made my eyes water ere 
now. I defire you more acquaintance, good Mafter 
MuJlard-Jeede. 

Tita. Come waite vpon him, lead him to my bower. 
The Moone me-thinks, lookes with a watrie eie, 195 

And when flie weepes, weepe euerie little flower, 
Lamenting fome enforced chaftitie. 
Tye vp my louers tongue, bring him filently. Exit. 

Enter King of Pharies,folus. [III. 2. 

Ob. I wonder if Titania be awak't ; 

161 hony bagges F hony bags R ^^s night tapers, FR croppe F 
1S5 fierie-] fiery FR Glowe- F eies R 1^7 bedde F :], F om. R ^^^ pluck F 
wings, F 169 fanneFR eyes, FR iTOdoR iT*-cy,F;]:F I'fs -fliippes F 
^'^^-wehbeY "8 bolde F '^^^ Fea/e-blqfome 7R 1^2 mg R ^^^-cod,Y 
18* fhall FR of you] you of FR -tance, F i86->w. F '^^^ Peaf. Feafe- 
blofome.']om.¥'Si ^^^ Mtfiard/eede ¥ feed 1^ 189 :]. F -ly, F gyant- 
like, Oxbeefe F i^^ deuourd F i^i water, F i^^ .-]om. FR -feed R 
19*,]: F leade FR 195 Moone, me thinkes F watry FR eye : F 
issflieeF weepe] weepes F -ry FR 197FR30 -ty R 198 TyF Fai- 
ries FR folus] and Robin goodfellow FR good-f el- R 



III. 2. 2-37.] A Midfommer nights Dreame, 29 

Then what it was that next came in her eye, 
Which flie muft dote on, in extremitie. 

Enter Pucke. 

Here comes my meffenger : how now mad fpirit, 

What night-rule now about this gaunted groue ? 5 

Fuck. My Miftris with a monfter is in loue, 
Neere to her clofe and confecrated bower, 
While fhe was in her dull and fleeping hower, 
A crew of patches, rude Mechanicals, 

That worke for bread vpon Athenian ftals, i"o 

Were met together to rehearfe a Play, 
Intended for great Thefeus nuptiall day: 
The fhallowefl thick-skin of that barren fort, 
Who Firamus prefented, in their fport, 

Forfooke his Scene, and entred in a brake, 15 

When I did him at this aduantage take, 
An Affes nole I fixed on his head. 
Anon his Thisbie muft be anfwered, 
And forth my Mimmick comes : when they him fpie, 
As Wilde-geefe, that the creeping Fowler eye, 20 

Or ruffed-pated choughes, many in fort 
(Rifing and cawing at the guns report) 
Seuer themfelues, and madly fweepe the skye : 
So at his fight, away his fellowes fiye, [1512] 

And at our ftampe, here ore and ore one fals ; 25 

He murther cries, and helpe from Athens cals. 
Their fenfe thus weake, loft with their fears thus flrong, 
Made fenfeleffe things begin to do them wrong. 
For briars and thornes at their apparell fnatch. 
Some fleeues, fome hats, from yeelders all things catch, 30 
I led them on in this diftrafted feare. 
And left fweete Fif-amus tranflated there : 
When in that moment (fo it came to paffe) 
Tytania waked, and ftraightway lou'd an Affe. 

Ob. This fals out better then I could deuife : 35 

But haft thou yet lacht the Athe7iians eyes. 
With the loue iuyce, as I did bid thee doe "i 

2was, F 3 extream- F -ty R Enter Pucke.'] om. FR * :]. F now, F 
,]?F ^-]om.Y gaunted] haunted FR Gmiftreffe FR '',].¥ 8 dull, F 
9 Mechan- FR w bread, FR ftalles FR i^ thickfkinne, F barraine F 
i*i>r-F ie,]:F i^ Minnick F Minnock R :]. F fpy FR ,]; F 
23 wilde geefe FR Fou- F 21 ruffet pated F ruffed pated R 22 Ryfmg, 
and cawing, F gunnes F 23 f^y pR 24 go, F fly F 25 ore, one F 
falles FR ;]: F 2s cryes FR 27 fenfe, F feares, F feares R 28 doe F 
29 For, briers F thornes, F -ell, F ,]: F 3D hats ;F -ers, F ,]. F 
s^on, F ^^Pyr-Y ^^VKZl st^ak't F ftraight way F 35faiies FR 
-ter, F :], F ssiatcht F STiuiceF do R 



30 A Midfommer nights Dreame, [III. 2. 38-74. 

Rob. I tooke him fleeping (that is finifht to) 
And the Atheniati woman by his fide, 
That when he wak't, of force fhe mufl be eyde. 40 

Enter Demetrius and Hermia. 

Ob. Stand clofe, this is the fame Athenian. 

Rob. This is the woman, but not this the man. 

Detn. O why rebuke you him that loues you fo ? 
Lay breath fo bitter on your bitter foe. 

Her. Now I but chide, but I Ihould vfe thee worfe. 45 

For thou (I feare) hall giuen me caufe to curfe, 
If thou haft flaine Lyjander in his fleepe, 
Being ore fhooes in bloud, plunge in tlie deepe, and kill 

me too : 
The Sunne was not fo true vnto the day, 50 

As he to me. Would he haue flollen away, 
From fleeping Hermia ? He beleeue as foone 
This whole earth may be bord, and that the Moone 
May through the Center creepe, and fo difpleafe 
Her brothers noonetide, with Xkv^ Antipodes. 55 

It cannot be but thou haft murdred him, 
So fhould a mutrherer looke, fo dead, fo grim. 

Dem. So fhould the murderer looke, and fo fliould I, 
Pierfl through the heart with your flearne cruelty : 
Yet you the murderer looks as bright as cleare, 60 

As yonder Venus in her glimmering fpheare. 

Her. What's this to my Lyfa^ider ? where is he ? 
Ah good Dejnetrius, wilt thou giue him me ? 

Dem. I'de rather giue his carkaffe to my hounds. 

Her. Out dog, out cur, thou driu'fl me paft the bounds 65 
Of maidens patience. Haft thou flaine him then ? 
Henceforth be neuer numbred among men. 
Oh, once tell true, euen for my fake, 
Durft thou a lookt vpon him, being awake ? 
And haft thou kill'd him fleeping ? O braue tutch : 70 

Could not a worme, an Adder do fo much ? 
An Adder did it : for with doubler tongue 
Then thine (thou ferpent) neuer Adder ftung, 

Dem. You fpend your paffion on a mifpri'sd mood, 

39 woman, F ,]; F « ey'd F ",]: F ^M: F ^^0,Y him, F 44 bit- 
ter.on F ^M: F 46,]. FR ^'^ -der, ¥ ,]; F 48 blood F 49jnee to. F 
to, R ^ihee to mee F hee F '^'^Yxo^ F beleeue, as foone, F 
63bor'dFR ssbe, F ,]. F 57murtherer F murderer R looke ; F 
grimme F 58 murthered F murdered R ^^ Pearft F heart, F sterna F 
:]. F 60 you, F murtherer, F looke as bright, FR cleere F ^^ Venus, F 
62 Whats F hee F es mee F 64 I'de] I had F Ide R carcaffe F 
65 curre FR ,]: F bonds R 68 _fr32 O F true] true : tell true F fake : F 
69 a] haue FR ^kild FR him, F :]! F ^2.], r 73thyneF '^fpeudcF 
-fion, F -pris'd F -priz'd R ,]: F 



III. 2. 75-112.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 31 

I am not guiltie of Ly/anders blood : 75 

Nor is he dead for ought that I can tell. 

Her. I pray thee tell me then that he is well. 

Dem. And if I could, what fhould I get therefore ? 

Her. A priuiledge, neuer to fee me more ; 
And from thy hated prefence part I : fee me no more 80 

Whether he be dead or no. Exit. 

Dem. There is no following her in this fierce vaine, 
Here therefore for a while I will remaine. 
So forrowes heauineffe doth heauier grow : 
For debt that bankrout flip doth forrow owe, 85 

Which now in fome flight meafure it will pay, 
If for his tender here I make fome flay. Lie downe. [154i] 

Ob. What haft thou done ? Thou haft miftaken quite 
And laid the loue iu}^ce on fome true loues fight : 
Of thy mifprifion, muft perforce enfue 90 

Some true loue turn'd, and not a falfe turn'd true. 

Rob. Then fate ore-rules, that one man holding troth, 
A million faile, confounding oath on oath. 

Ob. About the wood, goe fwifter then the winde, 
And Helena of Athens looke thou finde. 95 

All fancy ficke Ihe is, and pale of cheere, 
With fighes of loue, that cofts the frefh bloud deare. 
By fome illufion fee thou bring her heere. 
He charme his eyes againft fhe doth appeare. 

Robin. I go, I go, looke how I goe, 100 

Swifter then arrow from the Tartars bowe. Exit. 

Ob. Flower of this purple die, 
Hit with Cupids archery, 
Sinke in apple of his eye, 

When his loue he doth efpie, 105 

Let her fhine as glorioufly 
As the Venus of the sky. 
When thou wak'ft if fhe be by, 
Beg of her for remedy. 

Enter Pucke. 

Puck. Captaine of our Fairy band, 110 

Helena is heere at hand, 
And the youth, miftooke by me, 

T5 -ty FR bloode F bloud R ^6 deade, F dead, R "^ thee, F mee F 
then, FR 79 mee F ;]: F , R »':], R 8i more ; F more, R ^2 j. p 
83 Heere FR -fore, F while, F s^growe F :]. FR ssflippg F ,]: F 
86,]; F i*'^ heere R LydonneY ^8 quite, FR ^Maide R iuice F 
:]. F 91 turnd F turnd FR 92 .j^^^^. p 96 jg^] ig p 97 blood F 
sphere: F ^^eyes, F eies, R doth] doe F do R ™ I goe, I goe, F 
,]. F 101 arrow, F Exit\om.Y 102 dy F wspRsa loSefpyFR 
108 wak'ft, FR 109 Begge of her, F Puck'Y "ihandeF ii2meeF 



32 A Midfominer nights Dreame. [III. 2. 1 13-149. 

Pleading for a Louers fee. 

Shall we their fond Pageant fee ? 

Lord, what fooles thefe mortals be ! 115 

Ob. Stand afide : the noyfe they make, 
Will caufe Demetrius to awake. 

Puck. Then will two at once wooe one, 
That mull needs be fport alone : 

And thofe things doe bell pleafe me, 120 

That befall prepofteroufly. 

Enter Lyfander and Helena, 

Lyf. Why ftiould you think y I Ihould wooe in fcorn ? 
Scorne and derifion neuer comes in teares : 
Looke when I vow I weepe ; and vowes fo borne, 
In their natiuity all truth appeares. 125 

How can thefe things in me, feeme fcorne to you ? 
Bearing the badge of faith to proue them true. 

Hel. You doe aduance your cunning more & more, 
When truth kils truth, O diuelilh holy fray ! 
Thefe vowes are Hermias. Will you giue her ore ? 130 

Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh. 
Your vowes to her, and me, (put in two fcales) 
Will euen weigh, and both as light as tales. 

Lyf. I had no iudgement, when to her I fwore. 

Hel. Nor none in my minde, now you giue her ore. 135 

Lyf. Demetrius loues her, and he loues not you. Awa. 

Dem. O Helen, goddeffe, nimph, perfe6l, diuine, 
To what my, loue, fhall I compare thine eyne ! 
Chriftall is muddy, O how ripe in Ihow, 

Thy lips, thofe kiffing cherries, tempting grow ! 140 

That pure congealed white, high Taurus fnow, 
Fan'd with the Eafterne winde, turnes to a crow, 
When thou holdft vp thy hand. O let me kiffe 
This Princeffe of pure white, this feale of bliffe. 

Hell. O fpight ! O hell ! I fee you are all bent 145 

To fet againft me, for your merriment : 
If you were ciuill, and knew curtefie. 
You would not doe me thus much iniury. 
Can you not hate me, as I know you doe, [1542] 

"*weeF 115 bee F "S;]. F noyfe, F "^ two, at once, F ,]: F 
ii^needesF :]. F 12^0 FR mee F 121 prepoft'roufly F -der, F 
122 think, F fcorne F 123 Scorne, F -fion F come FR :]. F 12* vow, F 
;]: F i25.itie F 12B things, in mee F 12T prooue F 128 do R -ning. 
more, F 129 trueth kilies F i^i oath, with F waigh F 1^2 mee F 
,'\om. ¥K 133,]: F i35none, F iss FR34 ,]: F Awa.lom.YK 
13^ nymph, perfeft diuine F 13^ what, my loue FR eine R i^^,]- F 
O, F ripe, F fnowe FR 1*'' lippes F growe F 1*1 coniealed F 
i*2FandF crowe F "sq, F 1*5 fee, F are all] all are FR i^Smee F 
:]. F 1*8 do R meeF i^^mee F do R 



III. 2. 150-184.] A Midfo7nmer nights Dreame. 33 

But you muft ioyne in foules to mocke me to ? 150 

If you are men, as men you are in fhow, 

You would not vfe a gentle Lady fo ; 

To vow, and fweare, and fuperpraife my parts, 

When I am fure you hate me with your hearts. 

You both are Riuals, and loue Hermia ; 155 

And now both Riuals to mocke Helena. 

A trim exploit, a manly enterprize, 

To coniure teares vp in a poore maids eyes, 

With your derifion ; none of noble fort, 

Would fo offend a Virgin, and extort 160 

A poore foules patience, all to make you fport. 

Lyfa. You are vnkind Demetrius ; be not fo. 
For you loue Hermia ; this you know I know ; 
And here with all good will, with all my heart. 
In Herjnias loue I yeeld you vp my part ; 165 

And yours of Helena, to me bequeath, 
Whom I do loue, and will do to my death, 

Hel. Neuer did mockers waft more idle breth. 

Dem. Lyfander, keep thy Hermia, I will none : 
If ere I lou'd her, all that loue is gone. 170 

My heart to her, but as guell-wife foiourn'd, 
And now to Helen it is home return'd, 
There to remaine. 

Lyf. It is not fo. 

De. Difparage not the faith thou dofl not know, 
Left to thy periil thou abide it deare. 175 

Looke where thy Loue comes, yonder is thy deare. 

Enter Hermia. 

Her. Dark night, that from the eye his fun(5tion takes, 
The eare more quicke of apprehenfion makes, 
Wherein it doth impaire the feeing fenfe, 

Ir paies the hearing double recompence. 180 

Thou art not by mine eye, Lyfander found, 
Mine eare (I thanke it) brought me to that found. 
But why vnkindly didft thou leaue me fo ? (to go ? 

Lyfan. Why Ihould hee ftay whom Loue doth preffe 

iS-i ioyne, in foules, F mee F too R ^^i are men] were men FR 
fhowe F li^^voweF is^fure, F mee F 155.].^ iSBj^jualles, F 
Riuals, R mock F 157 .pj-jfe F i^s vp^ p maides FR 1^9 .^g^n. F 
,R None, F ^6) yfrgine FR 162 v,-,kinde, p vnkinde R ;]: F ,]. FR 
i63.»z/a: F ;]. F !>-* heare, F heere R i«5yeelde F ;]: F i^^emeeF 
,]: F 167 doe F to] till F i^-SwafteFR breath FR le^keepe FR ,]: F 
:]. F i'iFR35 gueftwife, F foiournd FR ,]: F ^'^^ Helen, \s\VY 
returnd F I'S It is] ^^/f;^^, it is F i'* faith, F ,]; F I'^LeaaFR 
-illF ab^F i"6,]: F I'T Darke FR eye, F i'^,]- F i«'ItFR 
payes F i^i not, by myne F eie R -der, found : F i^^ eare, I thanke 
it, F that] thy FR is^why, F -ly, F mee F is* he ftay, FR 



34 -^ Midfommer nights Dreame. [III. 2. 185-224. 

Her. What loue could preffe Lyfander from my fide ? 185 

Lyf. Lyfandtrs loue (that would not let him bide) 
Faire Helena ; who more engilds the night, 
Then all yon lierie oes, and eies of light. 
Why feek'ft thou me ? Could not this make thee know, 
The hate I bare thee, made me leaue thee fo ? 190 

Her, You fpeake not as you thinke ; it cannot be. 

Hel. Loe, flie is one of this confederacy, 
Now I perceiue they haue conioyn'd all three. 
To fafliion this falfe fport in fpight of me. 
Iniurious Hermia, mofl vngratefull maid, 195 

Haue you confpir'd, haue you with thefe contriu'd 
To baite me, with this foule derifion ? 
Is all the counfell that we two haue Ihar'd, 
The fifters vowes, the houres that we haue fpent. 
When wee haue chid the hafty footed time, 200 

For parting vs ; O, is all forgot ? 
All fchooledaies friendfliip, child-hood innocence ? 
We Hermia, like two Artificiall gods, 
Haue with our needles, created both one flower, 
Both on one fampler, fitting on one cufliion, 205 

Both warbling of one fong, both in one key ; 
As if our hands, our fides, voices, and mindes 
Had beene incorporate. So we grew together, 
Like to a double cherry, feeming parted, 

But yet a vnion in partition, 210 

Two louely berries molded on one flem, [155i] 

So with two feeming bodies, but one heart, 
Two of the firfl life coats in Heraldry, 
Due but to one and crowned with one crefl. 
And will you rent our ancient loue afunder, 215 

To ioyne with men in fcorning your poore friend ? 
It is not friendly, 'tis not maidenly. 
Our fexe as well as I, may chide you for it. 
Though I alone doe feele the iniurie. 

Her. I am amazed at your paffionate words, 220 

I fcorne you not ; It feemes that you fcorne me. 

Hel. Haue you not fet Lyfander^ as in fcorne 
To follow me, and praife my eies and face ? 
And made your other loue, Demetrius 

185 -^^r, F 187.]. F ,]m. F 188-ryFR eyes F i^^ mee F i9i;]:F 
bee F i92Lo:F ,]. F i^S-ceiue, FR -ioynd FR is* fport, FR mee F 
195 maide FR "^ mee F 199 hov/ers F 2to ^e FR -tie F 202 fchooldaies F 
fchoole-daies R -fliippe F -lorn. F 203 Wee, F 20i pRsg 2)7 voyces F 
238 bin FR wee grewe F -ted ; F 210 a] an FR 211 moulded FR 
ftemme FR ,]; F 2i4to one, FR creaft F 215 aun- F 2i6inen, F 
2i7tisFR 2i8fex, F it; F 219^0 R fele F -ry FR 220paf5fionate] 
m. FR ,]: F 221.]. p mee F 222 fcorne, F 223 mee F eyes F 



III. 2. 225-259.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 35 

(Who euen but now did fpurne me with his foote) 225 

To call me goddeffe, nimph, diuine, and rare, 

Precious, celefliall ? Wherefore fpeakes he this 

To her he hates ? And wherefore doth Lyfander 

Denie your loue (fo rich within his foule) 

And tender me (forfooth) affedlion, 230 

But by your fetting on, by your confent ? 

What though I be not fo in grace as you, 

So hung vpon with loue, fo fortunate } 

(But miferable moft, to loue vnlou'd) 

This you fhould pittie, rather then defpife. 235 

Her. I vnderftand not what you meane by this. 

Hel. I, doe, perfeuer, counterfeit fad lookes, 
Make mouthes vpon me when I turne my backe, 
Winke each at other, hold the fweete left vp : 
This fport well carried, fhall be chronicled. 240 

If you haue any pittie, grace, or manners, 
You would not make me fuch an argument : 
But fare ye well, 'tis partly mine owne fault, 
Which death or abfence foone fhall remedie. 

Lyf. Stay gentle Helena, heare my excufe, 245 

My loue, my life, my foule, faire Helena. 

Hel. O excellent ! 

Her. Sweete, do not fcorne her fo, 

De77i. If flie cannot entreate, I can compell. 

Lyf. Thou canfl compell, no more then flie entreate. 
Thy threats haue no more flrength then her weak praife. 250 
Helen, I loue thee, by my life I doe ; 
I fweare by that which I will lofe for thee. 
To proue him falfe, that faies I loue thee not. 

£>eiji. I fay, I loue thee more then he can do. 

Lyf. If thou fay fo, with-draw and proue it too. 255 

£)e77i. Quick, come. 

Her. Lyfander, whereto tends all this? 

Lyf. Away, you Ethiope. 

Dem. No, no, Sir, feeme to breake loofe ; 
Take on as you would follow. 
But yet come not : you are a tame man, go. 

225 mee F 225 mee F nymph F 227 Pretious F ^^om. F this, F 
228wherforeF 229.ny FR 23jineeF 232 what, F 235 .tyR 236 not, F 
237ldoe, FdoR -fait F ,]: F 238^66, F back: F 239 FR37 
fweeeteF ieaft FR :]. F 240 bee F 2ii.ty pR 242 ^ge F :]. FR 
2i3faryewell R ,]: F tis FR mine] my F ,]: F 244 death, F -dy FR 
245 Stay, F -na : F 247 doe F 248 entreat F 249 j^^. p more, F 
intreat F 25)^,eake FR 251 .]. y 252]oofe F ,]; F 2D3prooue F 
255withdrawe, F prooue F to FR 253 Quick come F 257.(7^ p Nq, 
no: heele/Seeme to breake loofe: take on as you would follow;/ F 
Sir,] hee'l R 259 .]. p 



36 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [III. 2. 260-294. 

Lyf. Hang off thou cat, thou bur ; vile thing let loofe, 260 
Or I will (hake thee from me like a ferpent. 

Her. Why are you growne fo rude ? 
What change is this fweete Loue ? 

Lyf. Thy loue ? out tawny Tartar, out ; 
Out loathed medicine ; O hated poifon hence. 

Her. Do you not iefl ? 265 

Hel. Yes footh, and fo do you. 

Lyf. Demetrius : I will keepe my word with thee. 

Dem. I would I had your bond : for I perceiue 
A weake bond holds you ; He not truft your word. 

L)f. What, fliould I hurt her, ftrike her, kill her dead ? 
Although I hate her, He not harme her fo. 270 

Her. What, can you do me greater harme then hate ? 
Hate me, wherefore ? O me, what newes my Loue ? [1552] 
Am not I Hermia ? Are not you Lyfandert 
I am as faire now, as I was ere while. 

Since night you lou'd me ; yet fmce night you left me. 275 
Why then you left me (O the gods forbid 
In earnefl, (hall I fay ? 

Lyf I, by my life ; 
And neuer did defire to fee thee more. 
Therefore be out of hope, of queftion, of doubt ; 
Be certaine, nothing truer : 'tis no left, 280 

That I doe hate thee, and loue Helena. 

Her. O me, you iugler, you canker bloffome, 
You theefe of loue ; What, haue you come by night, 
And ftolne my loues heart from him ? 

Hel. Fine yfaith : 
Haue you no modefty, no maiden fhame, 285 

No touch of bafhfulneffe ? What, will you teare 
Impatient anfwers from my gentle tongue ? 
Fie, fie, you counterfeit, you puppet, you. 

Her. Puppet ? why fo ? I, that way goes the game. 
Now I perceiue that fhe hath made compare 290 

Between e our flatures, flie hath vrg'd her height, 
And with her perfonage, her tall perfonage, 
Her height (forfooth) flie hath preuail'd with him. 
And are you growne fo high in his efteeme, 

230 of F ;]: F ,]; F 26imee, F 262 rude? What change is this,/ F 
this, R 233.]. F 2d4medcine:F poifon] potion F 265 j^oe p ieaft FR 
,]: F doe F 266 .]^ pR word, F 2J7 .]. p -ceiue, FR 268.-]. p 
2B9FR38 What? F 271 what? FR harme, F 272 Hate mee F 
newes, F 275,-,igh)-, F mee F night, F mee F 276 ^hen, F mee F 
-bid) FR 277 .].p 279xheforeF ;]: F 233 j. p. r .]. r tis no 
ieaft FR 28ido R 282 ^ee F iuggler FR 2S3.]. p ^S4 heart, F 
Fine, I faith. F ifaith. R 287 anfweres, F 288 py^ fy p .fait F -fet R 
293 -pare, F 292 tall par- R 293 .uaild FR 



111.2.295-33°-] A Midfomnier nights Dreame. 2)7 

Becaufe I am fo dwarfifh, and fo low? 295 

How low am I, thou painted May-pole ? Speake, 

How low am I ? I am not yet fo low, 

But that my nailes can reach vnto thine eyes. 

Ifel. I pray you though you mocke me, gentlemen, 
Let her not hurt me ; I was neuer curfl : 300 

I haue no gift at all in flirewilhneffe ; 
I am a right maide for my cowardize ; 
Let her not ftrike me : you perhaps may thinke, 
Becaufe fhe is fomething lower then my felfe, 
That I can match her. "305 

Her. Lower .■' harke againe. 

Ifel. Good Hennia, do not be fo bitter with me, 
I euermore did loue you Hermia^ 
Did euer keepe your counfels, neuer wronged you, 
Saue that in loue vnto Deuietrms, 

I told him of your flealth vnto this wood. 310 

He followed you, for loue I followed him. 
But he hath chid me hence, and threatned me 
To ftrike me, fpurne me, nay to kill me too ; 
And now, fo you will let me quiet go. 

To Athens will I beare my folly backe, 315 

And follow you no further. Let me go. 
You fee how fimple, and how fond I am. 

Her. Why get you gone : who ifb that hinders you.-' 

Hel. A foolilh heart, that I leaue here behinde. 

Her. What, with Lyjandert 320 

Her. With Demetrius. 

Lyf. Be not afraid, flie Ihall not harme thee HeleJia. 

Dem. No fir, fhe fhall not, though you take her part. 

HeL O when file's angry, flie is keene and flirewd, 
She was a vixen when flie went to fchoole, 
And though flie be but little, fhe is fierce. 325 

Her. Little againe ? Nothing but low and little ? 
Why will you fuffer her to flout me thus ? 
Let me come to her, 

Lyf. Get you gone you dwarfe, 
You minimus, of hindring knot-graffe made, 
You bead, you acorne. 

Dem. You are too officious, 330 

295,]<7;;2. FR lowe F sgejowe F Speake : F 297iowe F lowe F 
299pravyou, F gentleman F s^o.j. p 3« ;]: FR 352 FR39 maid, F 
maid R ;]: F 333 ^ee. F -haps, F soe^ee F siSwrongdF ,]; F 
339 loue, F siotouldF 3ii^]. p ]oue, F ,]. F 312 ^eeF sis^ee F 
mee;F mee to. F to R 3i4goe FR si^goeF 3i8why?F gon. F 
3i9heereR behind F ^'^'^ Hel. ^'\i\\.Y^ 32i ^-|. p 322fij-: p sSjq, F 
lhe's](heisF (hee's R fhrewd. F 324 .en, F ,]: F 325 but] hut F 
827floute F 328 gon, F ,]; F 329 knot graffe, F knot graffe R ,]; F 



38 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [III. 2. 331-363. 

In her behalf e that fcornes your feruices. 

Let her alone, fpeake not of Helena, [156i] 

Take not her part. For if thou dofi intend 

Neuer fo little fliew of loue to her, 

Thou flialt abide it. 335 

Lyf. Now Ihe holds me not. 
Now follow if thou dar'ft, to try whofe right, 
Of thine or mine is moft in Helena. 

Dem. Follow ? Nay, He goe with thee cheeke by 
iowle. Exit Lyfander and Demetrius. 

Her. You Miftris, all this coyle is long of you. 
Nay, goe not backe. 340 

Hel. I will not trufl you I, 
Nor longer ftay in your curft companie. 
Your hands then mine, are quicker for a fray, 
My legs are longer though to runne away. 

Enter Oberon and Pucke. 

Ob. This is thy negligence, ffcill thou miftak'ft, 345 

Or elfe committ'fl thy knaueries willingly. 

Puck. Beleeue me, King of fhadowes, I miflooke, 
Did not you tell me, I ihould know the man, 
By the Athenian garments he hath on ? 

And fo farre blameleffe proues my enterprize, 350 

That I haue nointed an Athenians eies, 
And fo farre am I glad, it fo did fort. 
As this their iangling I efleeme a fport. 

Ob. Thou feed thefe Louers feeke a place to fight, 
Hie therefore Robin, ouercaft the night, 355 

The llarrie Welkin couer thou anon. 
With drooping fogge as blacke as Acheron, 
And lead thefe teftie Riuals fo aflray, 
As one come not within anothers way. 

Like to Lyfander, fometime frame thy tongue, 360 

Then flirre Demetrius vp with bitter wrong ; 
And fometime raile thou like Demetrius; 
And from each other looke thou leade them thus, 

331 behalfe, F 332 alone : F 333 rR4o 334 fhewe F 335 aby F abie R 
holdes F ,]: F 33b.1ow, F 337 mine, FR 338 j. f go FR thee, F 
Exit Lyfattdera7td Demetrius. lorn. F Exit. R ss^You, F miftreffe FR 
3*3,]: F you, F siijvjot R -ny FR 342 hands, F than FR fray : F 
843JeggesF 'though, F ^"^Her. I am amaz'd, and know not what to 
fay. Exeunt. FR om.YoXxo Enter Oberon and Pucke.'] om. FR 

345-aence:F 346 .^itft p -mit'ft R willingly] wilfuHv FR 347nieeF 
fhaddowes R -tooke. FR 348 mge, I (lioud F 349.jnents, F hath] had F 
350 And, F prooues F -prife F 35ieyes FR ,]: F 354feeft, F ,] : F 
855 HyF 356.1-yFR 858 igadc R teaftv F -ty R seo tongue :F 
seiyp, F j]: F 302.]. p 863 other, F lead F ,]; F 



III. 2. 364-401.] A MidfoinTner nights Dreame. 39 

Till ore their browes, death-counterfeiting, fleepe 

With leaden legs, and Battie-wings doth creepe ; 365 

Then cruth this hearbe into Lysanders eie, 

Whofe liquor hath this vertuous propertie, 

To take from thence all error, with his might, 

And make his eie-bals role with wonted fight. 

When they next wake, all this derifion 370 

Shall feeme a dreame, and fruitleffe vifion, 

And backe to Athens fhall the Louers wend 

With league, whofe date till death (hall neuer end. 

Whiles I in this affaire do thee imply, 

He to my Queene, and beg her Indian Boy ; 375 

And then I will her charmed eie releafe 

From monfters view, and all things fhall be peace. 

Puck. My Fairie Lord, this muft be done with halle. 
For night-fwift Dragons cut the Clouds full fall, 
And yonder fhines Auroras harbinger ; 380 

At whofe approach Ghofts wandring here and there, 
Troope home to Church-yards ; damned fpirits all, 
That in croffe-waies and fiouds haue buriall, 
Alreadie to their wormie beds are gone ; 

For feare leaft day fliould looke their fhames vpon, 385 

They wilfully themfelues dxile from light, 
And mufb for aye confort with blacke browd night. 

Ob. But we are fpirits of another fort : 
I, with the mornings loue haue oft made fport, 
And like a Forrefter, the groues may tread, 390 

Euen till the Eaflerne gate all fierie red. 
Opening on Neptune, with faire bleffed beames, 
Turnes into yellow gold, his fait greene ftreames. 
But notwithftanding hafte, make no delay : [1562] 

We may effe6t this bufmeffe, yet ere day. 395 

Puck. Vp and downe, vp and downe, I will leade 
them vp and downe : I am fear'd in field and towne. 
Goblin, lead them vp and downe : here comes one. 400 

Enter Lyfander. 

Lyf. Where art thou, proud Demetrius ? 
Speake thou now. 

364 -faiting, fleepe, F sesiedgs R Batty wings FR ;]: F 366FR41 
eye; F ssT.ty pR ses.Qur F seggyebals F roule F rolle R 
87ifruiteleffe F 372^end, F s^adate, F 374 1^ p -faire, doe F im- 
ply] imploy F apply R ^'^,'\om.Y ;]: F STSgye F STTyieweF 
3'8Faiery F hafte. F 379 nights fwift F night fwift R 38o.]. p ssiap. 
proach, F approch R Ghofts, F heere R ^^'^-\om.Y ;]: F ssscroffe 
waies FR floods F 384 .^y pR -my FR ;]: F ssegxile FR 3S7aie R 
black browed F 388 .]. p 389ioue, F 39o tread,] tread F SDi.^y pR 
393 Turnes, F golde F 394notwiftandiug, F :], R 396 down F down F 
8"leadF dowe. F 898 town F 399.']. p 4JiSpeakFR now./ FR 



40 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [III. 2. 402-430. 

Roh. Here villaine, drawne & readie. Where art thou ? 

Lyf. I will be with thee llraight. 

Rob. Follow me then to plainer ground. 

Enter Demetrius. 

Dem. Lyfander, fpeake againe ; 
Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled ? 405 

Speake in fome bufh : Where doit thou hide thy head ? 

Rob. Thou coward, art thou bragging to the flars, 
Telling the bulhes that thou look'fl; for wars, 
And wilt not come ? Come recreant, come thou childe, 
He whip thee with a rod. He is defil'd 410 

That drawes a fword on thee. 

Dem. Yea, art thou there ? 

Ro. Follow my voice, we'l try no manhood here. Exit. 

Lyf. He goes before me, and ftill dares me on, 
When I come where he cals, then he's gone. 
The villaine is much lighter heel'd then 1 : 415 

I followed fafl, but faller he did flye ; Jhiftiiig places. 

That fallen am I in darke vneuen way. 

And here wil reft me. Come thou gentle day : lye down. 

For if but once thou fhew me thy gray light. 
He finde Demetrius, and reuenge this fpight. 420 

Enter Robin and Demetrius. 

Rob. Ho, ho, ho; coward, why com'ft thou not? 

Dem. Abide me, if thou dar'ft. For well I wot. 
Thou runft before me, fhifting euery place. 
And dar'ft not ftand, nor looke me in the face. 
Where art thou ? 425 

Rob. Come hither, I am here. 

Dem. Nay then thou mock'ft me ; thou fhalt buy this 
deere, 
If euer I thy face by day-light fee. 
Now goe thy way : faintneffe conftraineth me, 
To meafure out my length on this cold bed, 
By dales approach looke to be vifited. 430 

402.dyFR *53FR42 404.]. F «05.].FR doeftF *07j^ot. F 
•ing, F ftarres F ^^^ warres FR «o whippe F rodde F defil'd, F 
412 ,]: F weele F wee'l R Exeut FR «3 q^ : F 4i4 calles FR he 
is F hee's R gon F "5 .]. pR 4i5,]: F ?^-^ Y ^xq^ Jliif ting places :\ 
<?;«. FR 4i7vneauen F 4i8^iii pR •:\.Y lye down.loni.YK ^Wonce, F 
fhewe F '^'^'' Enter'] om.Y'^ Robin, F ^^i .]. p comft F 423niee F 
425 Where art thou now ? F ,]: F 425 mockft FR ;]. F fliat F dear F 
deare R 42; day light F 428 Now, F :]. F mee F 429.ure, F 
length, F ,]: F 43j approch R 



III. 2. 431-463.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 41 



Enter Helena. 

Hel. O weary night, O long and tedious night, 
Abate thy houres, ftiine comforts from the Eaft, 
That I may backe to Athens by day-light, 
From thefe that my poore companie deteft ; 
And fleepe that fometime Ihuts vp forrowes eie, 435 

Steale me a while from mine owne companie. Sleepe. 

Rob. Yet but three 1 Come one more, 
Two of both kindes makes vp foure. 
Here fhe comes, curft and fad, 
Cupid is a knauifli lad, 440 

Enter Hermia. 

Thus to make poore females mad. 

Her. Neuer fo wearie, neuer fo in woe, 
Bedabbled with the dew, and torne with briars, 
I can no further crawle, no further goe ; 
My legs can keepe no pace with my defires. 445 

Here will I reft me till the breake of day, 
Heauens Ihield Lyfander, if they meane a fray. 

Hob. On the ground fleepe found. 
He apply your eie gentle louer, remedy. 450 

When thou wak'ft, thou tak'ft 

True delight in the fight of thy former Ladies eye, 455 

And the Country Prouerb knowne, [15'^^J 

That euery man fliould take his owne, 

In your waking fhall be ftiowne. 460 

lacke fliall haue ////, nought fhall goe ill. 
The man fliall haue his Mare againe, and all fliall bee 
well. 

They Jleepe all the AB. 

432FR43 -forts, F ,]; F '^^ Athens, Y day light F 434.nyFR 
;]: F *35 fleepe, F -times FR eye F 436 mee F -ny R ^^W F 
*38 fower F *39 Heare fliee F fadde. F **» ladde F Enter Hermia.l 
om.Y 4*imaddeF «2.ryFR "^deawF briers : F 444 .]; f 
4451eg?es F pafe F 446 ^ee, F ,]: F 447fl^ieldeF 448 ground, F 
449 J. F 451 eye, F 455 delight, F 456 fight, F 457 eie R ,]: F 
458.erbeFR 460fliowenF 461j.f 462 go r ,]: F 463 again F 
be FR Theyjleepe all the Ai^.] om. FR 



42 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [IV, i. 1-29. 



ABus Quartus. 



Enter Queene of Fairies^ and Clowne, and Fairies, and the 
King behinde them. 

Tita. Come, fit thee clowne vpon this flowry bed, 
While I thy amiable cheekes doe coy, 
And fticke muske rofes in thy fleeke fmoothe head, 
And kiffe thy faire large eares, my gentle ioy. 

Clow. Where's Peafe bloj/bme ? 5 

Pea/. Ready. 

C/ow. Scratch my head, Peafe-bloJJbme. Wher's Moun- 
fieuer Cobweb. 

Cob. Ready. 

Clowne. Mounfieur Cobweb, good Mounfier get your 10 
weapons in your hand, & kill me a red hipt humble-Bee, 
on the top of a thillle ; and good Mounfieur bring mee 
the hony bag. Doe not fret your felfe too much in the 
a6lion, Mounfieur ; and good Mounfieur haue a care the 
hony bag breake not, I would be loth to haue yon ouer- 15 
fiowne with a hony-bag figniour. Where's Mounfieur 
Mujlardfeed ? 

Muf. Ready.. 

Clo. Giue me your neafe, Mounfieur Mujlardfeed. 
Pray you leaue your courtefie good Mounfieur. 20 

Mif. What's your will ? 

Clo. Nothing good Mounfieur, but to help Caualery 
Cobweb to fcratch. I muft to the Barbers Mounfieur, for 
me-thinkes I am maruellous hairy about the face. And I 
am fuch a tender affe, if my haire do but tickle me, I muft 25 
fcratch. 

Tita. What, wilt thou heare fome muficke, my fweet 
loue. 

Clow. I haue a reafonable good eare in muficke. Let 
vs haue the tongs and the bones. 

Mufuke To77gs, Rurall Mufcke. 

A(flus Quartus ^om.Y'^ Faieries F Faieries : R ^ Come sit FR 
2 do R 3 ftick musk F fmooth F 5 Peafe-bloffo7ne FR '' heade F 
-fieur FR ^ .]? pR w FR44 .figr] -fieur, F -fieur R get] get you F 
11 Humble Bee F l2toppe F ;]: F -fieur, F me R i^bagge F 
much, F 1*;]: F care, F i^honybagge F wold be loath F you FR 
-flowen F '^'^'\\ox»}o2.% ftgniorY '^'^-feedeY i8.(jje F "^^ feede ¥ 
2^you, F curtfie, F -fie, R ^i^ilR 22heipeFR '^^-webbe,Y -bars, F 
,]. F' 24j;ne thjnkes F -uailes F -uailous R -s^joe F mee F 27 fome 
fome R -fique F -fick R fweete F .]? FR 28.fique F Let vs] Lets F 
29 tongs, F Muficke Tongs, Rurall Muficke ^^om, FR 



IV. I. 30-63.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 43 

Tita. Or fay fweete Loue, what thou defireft to eat. 30 

Clowne. Truly a pecke of Prouender ; I could munch 
your good dry Oates. Me-thinkes I haue a great defire 
to a bottle of hay : good hay, fweete hay hath no fel- 
low. 

Tita. I haue a venturous Fairy, 35 

That fhall feeke the Squirrels hoard, 
And fetch thee new Nuts. 

Clown. I had rather haue a handfull or two of dried 
peafe. But I pray you let none of your people ffcirre me, I 
haue an expolition of fleepe come vpon me. 

Tyta. Sleepe thou, and I will winde thee in my arms, 40 
Fairies be gone, and be alwaies away. 
So doth the woodbine, the fweet Honifuckle, 
Gently entwift ; the female luy fo 
Enrings the barky fingers of the Elme. 

how I loue thee ! how I dote on thee ! 45 [1572] 

Eiiter Robin goodfellow and Oberon. 

Ob. Welcome good Robin : 
Seeft thou this fweet fight ? 
Her dotage now I doe begin to pitty. 
For meeting her of late behinde the wood, 
Seeking fweet fauors for this hatefuU foole, 

1 did vpbraid her, and fall out with her. 50 
For Ihe his hairy temples then had rounded. 

With coronet of frefh and fragrant flowers. 

And that fame dew which fomtime on the buds. 

Was wont to fwell like round and orient pearles ; 

Stood now within the pretty flouriets eyes, 55 

Like teares that did their owne difgrace bewaile. 

When I had at my pleafure taunted her, 

And fhe in milde termes beg'd my patience, 

I then did aske of her, her changeling childe. 

Which ftraight flie gaue me, and her Fairy fent 60 

To beare him to my Bower in Fairy Land. 

And now I haue the Boy, I will vndoe 

This hatefull imperfection of her eyes. 

3^0r, F eate FR ^iTruely FR -uander. F mounch FR 32 Me 
thinkes, F ^^ .]. jr 35-6 j have a venturous Fairy, that fhall feeke the 
Squirils hoord,/And fetch thee newe nuts. F ^'-full, F dryed F 
38 But, F you:F ftir R ,]: F sg^ee F « amies FR *i Faieries F 
gon F *2 fweete FR *3 .]. p 45 ^^45 and Oderon] am. FR *6 .]. p 
fweete F fight ?/ FR *TdoR-ginneF -tie F «late, F 49 fweete FR 
fauors] fauours F ^^^eawe F sometime F buddes F s* fwell, F 
65 eies R ^6 teares, F ^7 h^d, F -ure, F ^^ flae, F tearmes, F 
tearmes R begd FR 59 childe : F ^"^ mee F ^^ him, F bower, F 
-rie F ''^ejgs r 



44 -^ Midfommer nights Dreame. [IV. i. 64-96. 

And gentle Pucke, take this transformed fcalpe, 

From off the head of this Athenian fwaine ; 65 

That he awaking when the other doe, 

May all to Athens backe againe repaire, 

And thinke no more of this nights accidents, 

But as the fierce vexation of a dreame. 

But firll I will releafe the Fairy Queene. 70 

Be thou as thou wajl wont to be; 
See as thou waji wont to fee. 
Dians bud, or Cupids flower, 
Hath fuch force and bleffed power. 

Now my Titania wake you my fweet Queene. 75 

Tita. My Oberon, what vifions haue I feene ! 
Me-thought I was enamoured of an Affe. 

Ob. There lies your loue. 

Tita. How came thefe things to paffe ? 
Oh, how mine eyes doth loath this vifage now ! 

Ob. Silence a while. i?^/^/« take off his head : 80 

Titania, mufick call, and flrike more dead 
Then common fleepe ; of all thefe, fine the fenfe. 

2ita. Muficke, ho muficke, fuch as charmeth fleepe. 

Mufukflill. 

Rob. When thou wak'fl, with thine owne fooles eies 
peepe. (me 

Ob. Sound mufick ; come my Queen, take hands with 85 
And rocke the ground whereon thefe fleepers be. 
Now thou and I are new in amity. 
And will to morrow midnight, folemnly 
Dance in Duke Thefeus houfe triumphantly, 
And bleffe it to all faire pofterity. 90 

There fhall the paires of faithfull Louers be 
Wedded, with Thefeus, all in ioUity. 

Rob. Faire King attend, and marke, 
I doe heare the morning Larke. 

Ob. Then my Queene in filence fad, 95 

Trip we after the nights fliade j 

^KxiA,Y PuckY 65 off] of F heade F eshee, F do FR eofearce F 
Ti ^^ /^om] Be, F ^^ R bee: F ^^See, F 'Sbudde F •?* force, F 
■^5 Now, F -nia, F you, FR fweete FR "Me thought F -ourd F 
-ored R '^8 lygg F loue./ FR46 '^9 F eies R doth] doe F loathe R 
this] his F ^'^ Robin, Y of R his] this FR :]; R si-fickeFR «2.].f 
83 Mufick, howe mufick : F Mu/ickjini.'] om. FR »* When] Now, when F 
own fools eyes F peep R ^s.]. p come, F me, F 87]s[ow, F -tie F 
88 solemnely F 89 Daunce, F ^^ pofterity] profperitie F ^^ -tie F 
93 Fairy King, FR attend and R marke : F ^^ do FR ^^ Queene, F 
s^TrippeF the]^^. F ;]: F 



IV. I. 97-131.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 45 

We the Globe can compaffe foone, 
Swifter then the wandring Moone. 

Tita. Come my Lord, and in our flight, 
Tell me how it came this night, 100 

That I fleeping heere was found. 

Sleepers Lyejlill. 
With thefe mortals on the ground. Exeunt. [ISS^] 

Winde Homes, 

E?tter The/eus, Egeus, Hippolita and all his traine. 

The/. Goe one of you, finde out the Forrefter, 
For now our obferuation is perform'd; 

And fmce we haue the vaward of the day, 105 

My Loue 'fhall heare the muficke of my hounds. 
Vncouple in the Wellerne valley, let them goe ; 
Difpatch I fay, and finde the Forrefler. 
We will faire Queene, vp to the Mountaines top. 
And marke the muficall confufion no 

Of hounds and eccho in coniun6tion. 

Hip. I was with Hercules and Cadmus once, 
When in a wood of Creete they bayed the Beare 
With hounds of Sparta ; neuer did I heare 
Such gallant chiding. For befides the groues, 115 

The skies, the fountaines, euery region neere, 
Seeme all one mutuall cry. I neuer heard 
So muficall a difcord, fuch fweet thunder. 

The/. My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kinde, 
So flew'd, fo fanded, and their heads are hung 120 

With eares that fweepe away the morning dew, 
Crooke kneed, and dew-lapt, like Theffalian Buls, 
Slow in purfuit, but match'd in mouth like bels. 
Each vnder each. A cry more tuneable 
Was neuer hallowed to, nor cheer'd with home, 125 

In Creete, in Sparta, nor in Theffaly ; 
ludge when you heare. Bnt foft, what nimphs are thefe? 

Egeus. My Lord, this is my daughter heere afleepe, 
And this Lyfander, this Demetrius is, 

This Helena, olde Nedars Helena, 130 

I wonder of this being heere together. 

97 We, the Globe, F 99 flight. R iw here F Sleepers Lyejiill.l om. FR 
^^"^korne. F Enter Theseus and all Ms traine. FR lo^.^gj.. jr 

io*-formde. F i^ .pie, p -lie F go R ;]: F io9 Wee will, F toppe F 
.],FR 111 Echo F 112FR47 -jnus,Y us Beare, F ii*;]:F neflcyes F 
neare F ,>;«. F usfweeteFR '^'^'^-taneY ,]: F 120 fanded :F 
121 eares, F deawe F 122 deawlapt F Buls : F i23 Slowe F -fuite R 
,];F matchtFR 124 tunable F i25hollowdFR cheerd F 126.]. p 
127 But FR ,]. F nymphes F 128 jg] om. F a fleepe F 13" old F 
,]. F 131 this] their F here F 



46 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [IV. 1. 132-166. 

The. No doubt they rofe vp early, to obferue 
The right of May ; and hearing our intent, 
Came heere in grace of our folemnity. 

But fpeake Egeus, is not this the day 135 

That Herjnia fhould giue anfwer of her choice ? 

Egeus. It is, my Lord. 

The/. Goe bid the huntf-men wake them with their 
homes. 

Homes and they wake. 
Shout within, they alljlart vp. 

The/. Good morrow friends : Saint Valentine is paft, 
Begin thefe wood birds but to couple now ? 140 

Lyf. Pardon my Lord. 

7he/. I pray you all fland vp. 
I know you two are Riuall enemies. 
How comes this gentle concord in the world, 
That hatred is is fo farre from iealoufie, 
To fleepe by hate, and feare no enmity. 145 

Lyf. My Lord, I fliall reply afnazedly, 
Halfe fleepe, halfe waking. But as yet, I fweare, 
I cannot truly fay how I came heere. 
But as I thinke (for truly would I fpeake) 
And now I doe bethinke me, fo it is ; 150 

I came with Hermia hither. Our intent 
Was to be gone from Athens, where we might be 
Without the perill of the Athenian Law. 

Ege. Enough, enough, my Lord : you haue enough ; 
I beg the Law, the Law, vpon his head : 155 

They would haue ftolne away, they would Demetrius, 
Thereby to haue defeated you and me : 
You of your wife, and me of my confent ; 
Of my confent, that fhe fhould be your wife, 

Dcm. My Lord, faire Helen told me of their ftealth, 160 
Of this their purpofe hither, to this wood. 
And I in furie hither followed them ; [ISS^] 

Faire Helena, in fancy followed me. 
But my good Lord, I wot not by what power, 
(But by fome power it is) my loue 165 

To Hermia (melted as the fnow) 

132 doubt, F earelyF i33.]. p i34 heere, F -tie F iss fpeake, F day, F 
i^^choyce F choyfe R i^^Goe, F Go R -'\om. FR Homes and they 
wake'\ Winde homes FR Shouts within: F ^^^-row, F :]. F ,]. F 
liOwoodbirds F -pie, F i«-don, FR all, F i^^^j^q^^ jr wSworlde F 
i«isis]isFR i« FR48 -tie, F i^Sfhal F i^'But, F "StmelyFR 
here FR i^^truelyFR i^MoR mee F i5i-?«za, F i52gon p 
,]: F h€\om.Y issjawe, F is* enough my FR ;]. F iss^egge F 
156 would, Z>£- FR 158 mee, F ;]: F i«2-iy FR iss following mee F 
i6*woteF ,>w. FR 165 loue, F issfnoweF Seemes FR 



IV. 1. 167-200.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 47 

Seems to me now as the remembrance of an idle gaude, 

Which in my childehood I did doat vpon : 

And all the faith, the vertue of my heart, 

The obie(5l and the pleafure of mine eye, 170 

Is onely Helena. To her, my Lord, 

Was I betroth'd, ere I fee Hermia, 

But like a fickeneffe did I loath this food. 

But as in health, come to my naturall tafte, 

Now doe I'wifli it, loue it, long for it, 175 

And will for euermore be true to it. 

The/. Faire Louers, you are fortunately met ; 
Of this difcourfe we fliall heare more anon. 
Egeiis, I will ouer-beare your will ; 

For in the Temple, by and by with vs, 180 

Thefe couples Ihall eternally be knit. 
And for the morning now is fomething worne, 
Our purpos'd hunting fhall be fet afide. 
Away, with vs to Athens ; three and three, 
Wee'll hold a feaft in great folemnitie. 185 

Come Hippolitce. Exit Duke and Lords. 

Dem. Thefe things feeme fmall & vndiftinguifliable, 
Like farre off mountaines turned into Clouds. 

Her. Me-thinks I fee thefe things with parted eye. 
When euery things feemes double. 190 

Hel. So me-thinkes : 
And I haue found Demetrius., like a iewell, 
Mine owne, and not mine owne. 

Dem. It feemes to mee, 
That yet we fleepe, we dreame. Do not you thinke, 
The Duke was heere, and bid vs follow him ? 195 

Her. Yea, and my Father. 

Hel. And HippoHt(B. 

Lyf. And he bid vs follow to the Temple. 

Dem. Why then we are awake ; lets follow him, and 
by the way let vs recount our dreames. 

Bottome wakes. Exit Louers. 

Clo. When my cue comes, call me, and I will anfwer. 200 

168-hoodeF dote FR i™ eie R 1^2 betrothed F bethroth'd R 
-mia : F i^3 gut, F fickneffe, FR loathe R foode. F "* But, F 
175 doe I] I doe F do I R i" ;]. F i^s .courfe, FR fhall heare more] 
more will here F will heare moreR ™F49 -^om. FR ;]: F i^'J R49 
by, with F i82And, F fomthing F i8*vs, F ;]. F iss Weele F 
Wee'l R holde F feaft, F -ty R ^^^ ffyppolita. /. ¥ Exit Dicke 
and Lords.] om. F Exit. R i^g ^g thinks F things, F eie R i^^ thing FR 
mee thinkes F i^^fonndF 192-3 /j^^^. jt feemes] Z>^ot. Are you fure/ 
That we are awake ? It feemes FR i^s^e FR i^^here F '^^ HyppolitaY 
197 bid] did bid F "s then, F ;]: F let's R 199 let vs] lets F Exit 
Louers.~\ om. F Exit. R Bottome wakes.'\ om. FR 200 j^ee F anfwere F 



48 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [IV. i, 201-2. 18. 

My next is, moft f aire Piratnus. Hey ho. Peter Qumce ? 
Flute the bellowes-mender ? Sfiotit the tinker ? Starue- 
lijigl Gods my life ! Stolne hence, and left me afleepe : I 
haue had a moll rare vifion. I had a dreame, paffc the wit 
of man, to fay, what dreame it was. Man is but an Affe, 205 
if he goe about to expound this dreame. Me-thought I 
was, there is no man can tell what. Me-thought I was, 
and me-thought I had. But man is but a patch'd foole, 
if he will offer to fay, what me-thought I had. The eye of 
man hath not heard, the eare of man hath not feen, mans 210 
hand is not able to tafte, his tongue to conceiue, nor his 
heart to report, what my dreame was. I will get Peter 
Qumce to write a ballet of this dreame, it fliall be called 
Bottomes Dreame, becaufe it hath no bottome ; and I will 
fing it in the latter end of a play, before the Duke, Per- 215 
•aduenture, to make it the more gracious, I Ihall fmg it 
at her death. Exit. 

Enter Quince, Flute, Thisbie, Snout, and Starueling. [IV. 2. 

Qitin. Haue you fent to Bottomes houfe ? Is he come 
home yet ? 

Staru, He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt hee is 
tranfported. 

Thif. If he come not, then the play is mar'd. It goes 5 [159^] 
not forward, doth it ? 

Quin. It is not poffible : you haue not a man in all 
Athe?is, able to difcharge Piramus but he. 

Thif. No, hee hath fimply the beft wit of any handy- 
craft man in Athens. 10 

Quin. Yea, and the befl perfon too, and hee is a very 
Paramour, for a fweet voyce. 

Thif. You muft fay, Paragon. A Paramour is (God 
bleffe vs) a thing of nought. 

Enter Snug the loyner. ■ 

Snug. Mailers, the Duke is comming from the Tem- 15 
pie, and there is two or three Lords & Ladies more mar- 
ried : If our fport had gone forward, we had all bin made 
men. 

^^^Pyramus,Y PeeterY ^^'^Fhite,'F bellowes men- F 203 ^ee a 
fleepe ? F 204 j had] I haue had FR 205 fay ; f 2ob hee F go R 
t6]om.'P Me thought F 207 Me thought F 208ine thought F a 
patch'd] patcht a FR 209 hee F mee thought F eie R 210 fgene FR 
211 F50 2i2hearteF dream/ R50 213 dream R ,]: F call'd FR 
"^^^-tomsY ,]; F ;]: F 2i6gratious F ^^"^ Exit.'lom.Y •bie,'\-hyY 
Snout, a?td StarueU7ig\ and the rabble FR ^ -toins Y 2 home, F ^ Staru\ 
Flut.YK Hee F .], F hee F ^hee F mard FR M. F ^ :]. F 
man, F » Pyramus, Y 9 he R 1° man, F " to F he R 12 f^eete FR 
voice F 1* Snug, F 1^ :]. FR gon F wee F beene FR 



IV. 2. iQ-V. 1.4.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 49 

Thif. O fweet bully Bottome: thus hath he loft fixe- 
pence a day, during his life ; he could not haue fcaped fix- 20 
pence a day. And the Duke had not giuen him fixpence 
a day for playing Firamus, He be hang'd. He would haue 
deferued it. Sixpence a day in Firamus, or nothing. 

Enter Bottome. 

Bot. Where are thefe Lads .? Where are thefe hearts ? 
^ Quin. Bottome, 6 moft couragious day! O moft hap- 25 
pie houre ! 

Bot. Mafters, I am to difcourfe wonders ; but ask me 
not what. For if I tell you, I am no true Athenian. I 
will tell you euery thing as it fell out. 

Qu. Let vs heare, fweet Bottome. 30 

Bot. Not a word of me : all that I will tell you, is, that 
the Duke hath dined. Get your apparell together, good 
firings to your beards, new ribbands to your pumps, 
meete prefently at the Palace, euery man looke ore his 
part : for the fhort and the long is, our play is preferred : 35 
In any cafe let Thisby haue cleane linnen : and let not him 
that playes the Lion, paire his nailes, for they fliall hang 
out for the Lions clawes. And moft deare A(5lors, eate 
no Onions, nor Garlicke ; for wee are to vtter fweete 
breath, and I doe not doubt but to heare them fay, it is a 40 
fweet Comedy. No more words : away, go away. 

Exeunt. 



AHus Quintus. 



Enter Thefeus, Hippolita, Egeus and his Lords. 

Hip. 'Tis ftrange my Thefeus, y thefe louers fpeake of. 

The. More ftrange then true. I neuer may beleeue 
Thefe anticke fables, nor thefe Fairy toyes, 
Louers and mad men haue fuch feething braines, 

19 fweete FR :]. F hee F fix pence F fixpence R 20.]. p hee 
coulde F fixe pence F 21 fi^ pence F 22 day, F Pyr- F hanged F 
^''bix pence F day, F Pyramus,/ Yb\ -torn F 24harts F '^^-tomY 
-pyFR 27R51 .J. jr afke FR mee R 28no]notFR 29tel R 
as] right as FR 3' fweete FR -tomY sijnee. F 32apparren F 
°^beardes F ribands F pumpes F 34.j.ie R 35;]. F For, F -ferd FR 
3^him, F 37 piaies FR Lyon, pare F ,]: F 38 Lyo^g p 39.j. p^epR 
*o ,]: F do FR hear F « fweete FR wordes. F Exeunt.'\ om. FR 
f^usQu^ntus^, om. FR Hyp- F Egeiis and his Lordsl and Philoftrate FR 
•I lis FR ftrange, F 2ftraunge F 3 antique F toies R ,]. F * Louers, F 



50 A Midfommer nights Dreame, [V, i. 5-38. 

Such fhaping phantafies, that apprehend more 5 

Then coole reafon euer comprehends. 

The Lunaticke, the Louer, and the Poet, 

Are of imagination all compact. 

One fees more diuels then vafte hell can hold; 

That is the mad man. The Louer, all as franticke, 10 

Sees Helens beauty in a brow of Egipt. 

The Poets eye in a fine frenzy rolling, doth glance 

From heauen to earth, from earth to heauen. 

And as imagination bodies forth the forms of things 15 

Vnknowne ; the Poets pen turnes them to Ihapes, 

And giues to aire nothing, a locall habitation. 

And a name. Such tricks hath flrong imagination, 

That if it would but apprehend fome ioy, [ISS^] 

It comprehends fome bringer of that ioy. 20 

Or in the night, imagining fome feare. 

How eafie is a bufh fuppos'd a Beare } 

Hip. But all the ftorie of the night told ouer, 
And all their minds transfigur'd fo together, 
More witneffeth than fancies images, 25 

And growes to fomething of great conftancie ; 
But howfoeuer, flrange, and admirable. 

Enter loners, Lyfander, Demetrius, Hermia, 
and Helena. 

The. Heere come the louers, full of ioy and mirth : 
Ioy, gentle friends, ioy and frefh dayes 
Of loue accompany your hearts. 30 

Lyf. More then to vs, waite in your royall walkes, 
your boord, your bed. 

The. Come now, what maskes, what dances Ihall 
we haue. 

To weare away this long age of three houres. 
Between our after fupper, and bed-time ? 
Where is our vfuall manager of mirth ? 35 

What Reuels are in hand ? Is there no play, 
To eafe the anguifh of a torturing houre ? 
Call Egeiis. 

Ege. Heere mighty Thejeus. 

"more, F -hends. The lunatick,/The louer, and the Poet are of im- 
agination all compact./ F 9-els, F vaft F holde : F i^.tJckF 
'^'^^gyptY i^eyg^FeieR -zy, F ^^ heauen. And as /Imagination F 
15 formes FR things/ F52 ;]: F penne F i^ayery F airy R 

iStrickesFR 19R52 ss^ut, F -ry FR mindes R 2B.cyFR ;]: F 
27 ftrange and FR Louers ; F louers : R -mia and F 28 Here FR :]. F 
29 daies FR ^^ roiall R boorde F bedde F ^2 now : F daunces F 
wee FR ^3 hours, betweene/ F ^*-tweeneR our] Or FR bed-time. 
Where is our vfuall manager/Of mirth F ^'hower? Call PhiloJl}'ate. J F 
38 Egeus\ Philojlrate FR Ege?^ Philojlrate. FR Here F 



V. I. 39-73-] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 51 

The. Say, what abridgement haue you for this eue- 
ning? 

What maske ? What muficke ? How fhall we beguile 40 
The lazie time, if not with fome deUght ? 

Ege. There is a breefe how many fports are rife : 
Make choife of which your Highneffe will fee firft. 

Lif. The battell with the Centaurs to be fung 
By an Athenian Eunuch, to the Harpe. 45 

The. Wee'l none of that. That haue I told my Loue 
In glory of my kinfman Hercules. 

Lif. The riot of the tipfie Bachanals, 
Tearing the Thracian finger, in their rage ? 

The. That is an old deuice, and it was plaid 50 

When I from Thebes came lafl a Conqueror. 

Lif. The thrice three Mufes, mourning for the death 
of learning, late deceaft in beggerie. 

The. That is fome Satire keene and criticall. 
Not forting with a nuptiall ceremonie. 55 

Lif A tedious breefe Scene of yong Piramus, 
And his loue Thisby ; very tragicall mirth. 

The. Merry and tragicall ? Tedious, and briefe ? That 
is, hot ice, and wondrous flrange fnow. How fliall wee 60 
finde the concord of this difcord ? 

Ege. A play there is, my Lord, fome ten words long, 
Which is as breefe, as I haue knowne a play j 
But by ten words, my Lord, it is too long ; 
Which makes it tedious. For in all the play. 
There is not one word apt, one Player fitted. 65 

And tragicall my noble Lord it is : for Pirmmis 
Therein doth kill himfelfe. Which when I faw 
Rehearft, I muft confeffe, made mine eyes water : 
But more merrie teares, the paffion of loud laughter 70 

Neuer flied. 

Thef What are they that do play it ? 

Ege. Hard handed men, that worke in Athens heere, 
Which neuer labour'd in their mindes till now ; 

39 abridgment R ^^ mafke, FR 4i.zy tyme F '^'^ Ege^, Philojl. FR 
briefe, FR rife] ripe F :]. FR ^^choyce, F ^^L^f^, The. FR -tauresY 
fung, F 45Eunuche F .]? F *6 The?^om. FR Weele F tolde FR 
loue, FR *8 Lif\ om. FR ryot F ^^ FR53 ^o The?[ om. FR olde FR 
deuife F ,]: F ; R plaid, FR ^i.rer F ^^Liflom. FR thrife F 
53 0f FR deceaft, F -ry FR .]? F ^The.lom.YK ss.ny FR 
^^Li/.'lom.'FR briefe FR young FR Pyr-Y ,]om. F 57.]? FR 
68 T/ie.]om. FR -ry, F ,]om. R briefe. That is hot Ife,/ FR 69ice R 
wodrousF e^we F find F -cord/Of F ^^ Ege.} FMo^. FR long ; F 
62 brief eFR ;]: F 63 gut, F Lord it F ;]: F e^plaier R 66 .call, FR 
Lord, FR :]. F Fyramus, F 67.in, F eseies R :]; R ^»-ry F 
,>;«. FR Tithey, F doe F "^^ Ege.] F/iil. FR here FR ^^ minds F 
;]:F 



52 A Midfommer nights Dreame, [V. i. 74-112. 

And now haue toyled their vnbreathed memories 

With this fame play, againft your nuptiall. 75 

The. And we will heare it. 

Phi. No, my noble Lord, it is not for you. I haue heard [160^] 
It ouer, and it is nothing, nothing in the world ; 
Vnleffe you can finde fport in their intents, 
Extreamely llretcht, and cond with cruell paine, 80 

To doe you feruice. 

Thef. I will heare that play. For neuer any thing 
Can be amiffe, when fimpleneffe and duty tender it. 
Goe bring them in, and take your places, Ladies. 

Hip. I loue not to fee wretchedneffe orecharged ; 85 

And duty in his feruice periihing. 

Thef. Why gentle fweet, you fliall fee no fuch thing. 

Hip. He faies, they can doe nothing in this kinde. 

Thef. The kinder we, to giue them thanks for nothing 
Our fport fhall be, to take what they miftake ; 90 

And what poore duty cannot doe, noble refpedt 
Takes it in might, not merit. 

Where I haue come, great Clearkes haue purpofed 
To greete me with premeditated welcomes ; 
Where I haue feene them fhiuer and looke pale, 95 

Make periods in the midft of fentences, 
Throttle their pra6liz'd accent in their feares, 
And in conclufion, dumbly haue broke off, 
Not paying me a welcome. Truft me fweete, 
Out of this filence yet, I pickt a welcome : 100 

And in the modefty of fearefull duty, 
I read as much, as from the ratling tongue 
Of faucy and audacious eloquence. 
Loue therefore, and tongue-tide fimplicity, 
In leafl, fpeake moft, to my capacity. 105 

Egeus. So pleafe your Grace, the Prologue is addrefl. 

Duke. Let him approach. Flor. Triim. 

Enter the Prologue. Quince. 

Pro. If we offend, it is with our good will. 
That you Ihould thinke, we come not to offend, 
But with good will. To fliew our fimple skill, no 

That is the true beginning of our end. 
Confider then, we come but in defpight. 

'*-ries, FR '^Svee F '?9ententsF so Extremely R "doFR 
83 duety F »* FR54 ^s duety, F duety R -uice, F ^7 why, F fweete FR 
88 fayes F do R 89 thanks, F -ing. FR 90 ;]. F : R ^i do R 
eacierkesF ^ime, F ss.fjon dumbly F s^mee F me, F 10° fi- 
lence, F 102 rattling F lo* Loue, F tong-tide F '^''^ Egetis?[PhiloJi.Y'K 
"if^T Flor. Trum.'\om.¥'R. Qm'nce.J om. FR ^^^weeF 



V. 1. 1 13-147.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 53 

We do not come, as minding to content you, 

Our true intent is. All for your delight, 

We are not heere. That you fhould here repent you, 115 

The A6lors are at hand ; and by their lliow, 

You fliall know all, that you are like to know. 

The/. This fellow doth not ftand vpon points. 

Lyf. He hath rid his Prologue, like a rough Colt : he 
knowes not the flop. A good morall my Lord. It is not 120 
enough to fpeake, but to fpeake true. 

Hip. Indeed hee hath plaid on his Prologue, like a 
childe on a Recorder, a found, but not in gouernment. 

The/. His fpeech was like a tangled chaine : nothing 
impaired, but all difordered. Who is next ? 125 

Tawyer with a Trumpet before them. 

Enter Pyravius and Thisby, Wall, Moone-JJiine, and Lyon. 

Prol. Gentles, perchance you wonder at this fliow, 
But wonder on, till truth make all things plaine. 
This man is Piramus, if you would know ; 
This beauteous Lady, Thisby is certaine. 

This man, with lyme and rough-caft, doth prefent 130 

Wall, that vile wall, which did thefe louers funder : 
And through walls chink (poor foules) they are content 
To whifper. At the which, let no man wonder. 
This man, with Lanthorne, dog, and bufli of thorne, 
Prefenteth moone-fhine. For if you will know, 135 

By moone-fliine did thefe Louers thinke no fcorne 
To meet at Ninus toombe, there, there to wooe : 
This grizy beaft (which Lyon hight by name) [ISO^] 

The trufty Thisby, comming firfl by night, 
Did fcarre away, or rather did affright : 140 

And as flie fled, her mantle the did fall ; 
Which Lyon vile with bloody mouth did ftaine. 
Anon comes Piramus, fweet youth and tall, 
And findes his Thisbies Mantle flaine ; 

Whereat, with blade, with bloody blamefull blade, 145 

He brauely broacht his boiling bloudy breaft, 
And Thisby, tarrying in Mulberry fliade, 

113 doe F 115 Wee F here F 11S;]:F and, F fliowe F i^knowe, F 
118FR55 iisColteF hee FR is^ftoppeF 121,]; F 122 hee F his] 
thisFR 123 child F found ; F gouernement F I2ifpeach F :]; FR 
125 Tawyer with a Trtcvipet before them^otn. FR -mus, F Wall, land 
Wall, a;?^F i26fliow,]{how. F 12' But, F trutheF m pyy. y 
knowe:F i29-tious FR Lady T^^j/ F '^^\]om.'R. ->w. FR 

132 wals chinke FR ( )], , F poore FR i3i lanterne, dogge F 137 meete FR 
tombe F issgrizly FR i39 Thyf- F i" ;]: F 1*2 Lion R '^^^ Pyr- F 
fweete FR youth, F 1** his] his trufty FR -<!y/<fj F ;]: F i*6boyl-F 
bloody FR ,]. F "Uary-F 



54 -^ Midfommer nights Dreame. [V. 1. 148-182. 

His dagger drew, and died. For all the reft, 
Let Lyon, Moone-JIii?ie, Wall, and Louers twaine, 
At large difcourfe, while here they doe remaine. 150 

Exit all but Wall. 

The/. I wonder if the Lion be to fpeake. 

Deme. No wonder, my Lord : one Lion may, when 
many Affes doe. 

Exit Lyon, Thisbie, and MoojieJIzine. 

Wall. In this fame Interlude, it doth befall, 
That I, one Snowt (by name) prefent a wall : I55 

And fuch a wall, as I would haue you thinke, 
That had in it a crannied hole or chinke : 
Through which the Louers, Piramus and Thisbie 
Did whifper often, very fecretly. 

This loame, this rough-caft, and this flone doth fhew, 160 

That I am that fame Wall ; the truth is fo. 
And this the cranny is, right and fmifler, 
Through which the fearefull Louers are to whifper. 

Thef. Would you defire Lime and Haire to fpeake 
better ? _ 165 

Deme. It is the vvittiefl partition, that euer I heard 
difcourfe, my Lord. 

Thef. JPyramtis drawes neere the Wall, filence. 

Enter Py ramus. 

Pir. O grim lookt night, 6 night with hue fo blacke, 
O night, which euer art, when day is not : 170 

night, 6 night, alacke, alacke, alacke, 

1 feare my Thisbies promife is forgot. 

And thou 6 wall, thou fweet and louely wall. 

That ftands betweene her fathers ground and mine, 

Thou wall, 6 wall, 6 fweet and louely wall, 175 

Shew me thy chinke, to blinke through with mine eine. 

Thankes courteous wall. loue fhield thee well for this. 

But what fee I ? No Thisbie doe I fee, 

O wicked wall, through whom I fee no bliffe, 

Curft be thy ftones for thus deceiuing mee. 180 

Thef. The wall me - thinkes being fenfible, fhould 
curfe againe. 

"8 drewe F dyed F i^a do R Exit all but PVall.] om. FR i5i pRsg 
-der, F Lyon FR 152 .]. p i5s Jq R Thyf by F -by R Moone- 
fliine R 15* enter- F -lude,] -lude FR i55 SnowiX Flute FR iss thinke,] 
thinke F i^cranied F '^^^ Py ramus, Y -^j/, FR isoiome FR -]o;«. FR 
fliowe, F fliow. R 161;]: F is^cranie F le^fpeak R ^^^ Pir- R 
neare F ,]: F Enter Pyra7Jtus:\om.'¥'^ 169 night, with F '^'^'^-byesY 
i''^ thou fweet and] 6 fweete, 6 FR i^* ftandft F "s fweete FR I'S Showe 
mee F blink FR through, F i" Thanks R cur- F well, F i'^ -by FR 
do R i'9 whome F i^o ftones, FR me R isi mee thinkes, F me-thinks R 



V. 1. 183-216.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 55 

Pir. No in truth fir, he fhould not. Decerning me, 
Is Thisbies cue ; Ihe is to enter, and I am to fpy 
Her through the wall. You fhall fee it will fall, 185 

Enter This He. 

Pat as I told you ; yonder fhe comes. 

Thif. O wall, full often hafl thou heard my mones, 
For parting my faire Piramus, and me. 
My cherry lips haue often kill thy ftones ; 
Thy ftones with Lime and Haire knit vp in thee. igo 

Fyra. I fee a voyce ; now will I to the chinke, 
To fpy and I can heare my Thisbies face. T'hisbie "i 

Thif. My Loue thou art, my Loue I thinke. 

Pir. Thinke what thou wilt, I am thy Louers grace. 
And like Lijnander am I trufty ftill. ig^ 

Thif. And like Helen till the Fates me kill. 

Pir. Not Shafalus to Procrus, was fo true. 

Thif. As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you. 

Pir. O kiffe me through the hole of this vile wall. [163i] 

Thif. I kiffe the wals hole, not your lips at all. 200 

Pir. Wilt thou at Ninnies tombe meete me flraight 
way.'' 

Thif Tide life, tide death, I come without delay. 

Wall. Thus haue I Wall, my part difcharged fo ; 
And being done, thus Wall away doth go. Exit Clow. 

Du. Now is the morall downe betweene the two 205 
Neighbors. 

Dem. No remedie my Lord, when Wals are fo wil- 
full, to heare without warning. 

JDut. This is the filliell fluffe that ere I heard. 

Du. The beft in this kind are but fhadowes, and the 210 
worfl are no worfe, if imagination amend them. 

Dut. It muft be your imagination then, & not theirs. 

Duk. If wee imagine no worfe of them then they of 
themfelues, they may paffe for excellent men. Here com 
two noble beafls, in a man and a Lion. 215 

Enter Lyon and Moonefhine. 
Lyon. You Ladies, you (whofe gentle harts do feare 

183 No, F mee is/ Thif byes F i^i .]. p enter] enter now FR 185 fa)].] 
fall FR Enter Tki/bie.l (follows line i86) FR -by F I86FR57 ;]: F 
188 pyy_ Y mee F ^^^ ftones, F hayire F vp in thee] now againe FR 
191 voice FR ;]: F '^'^'^-byesY 193 -by FR 19* Grace :F iss^nd, F 
-der,Y^ i9« And] And I, F And I R ^^/««, FR '^'^'^ -alus,Y 199 mee, F 
vilde F 210 walles F ,]; F 201 thou, F tombe, F toomb R ftraight- 
way R 202 tyde death F 203 j^ p 204 And, F goe FR Exit Clow.l 
om.YK 2b5 morall downe] Moon vfed FR between F 207 .^y, jr^. 
209ftufEe, F ere]euerF 210 beft, F kinde, F kinde R ,]: F 2i2.tion, F 
,]; F 213 we F them, F 2i4Heere R come FR 215 Lyon FR 
Lyon, F 216 hearts FR 



56 A Midfommer nights Dreame, [V. i. 217-252. 

The fmalleft monftrous moufe that creepes on floore) 

May now perchance, both quake and tremble heere, 

When Lion rough in wildeft rage doth roare. 

Then know that I, one Snug the loyner am 220 

A Lion fell, nor elfe no Lions dam : 

For if I fhould as Lion come in fbrife 

Into this place, 'twere pittie of my life. 

Du. A verie gentle beafl, and of a good confcience. 

Dem. The verie bell at a beall, my Lord, y ere I faw. 225 

Lif. This Lion is a verie Fox for his valor. 

Du. True, and a Goofe for his difcretion. 

De7n. Not fo my Lord : for his valor cannot carrie 
his difcretion, and the Fox carries the Goofe. 

Du, His difcretion I am fure cannot carrie his valor: 230 
for the Goofe carries not the Fox, It is well ; leaue it to 
his difcretion, and let vs hearken to the Moone. 

Moon. This Lanthorne doth the horned Moone pre- 
fent. 

De. He fhould haue worne the homes on his head. 

Du. Hee is no crefcent, and his homes are inuifible, 235 
within the circumference. 

Moon. This lanthorne doth the horned Moone pre- 
fent : My felfe, the man i'th Moone doth feeme to be. 

Du. This is the greateft error of all the reft ; the man 
fliould be put into the Lanthorne, How is it els the man 240 
i'th Moone ? 

Dem. He dares not come there for the candle. 
For you fee, it is already in snuffe. 

Dut. I am vvearie of this Moone ; would he would 
change, 245 

Du. It appeares by his fmal light of difcretion, that 
he is in the wane : but yet in courtefie, in all reafon, we 
muft ftay the time. 

Lyf. Proceed Moone, 

Moon. All that I haue to fay, is to tell you, that the 250 
Lanthorne is the Moone ; I, the man in the Moone ; this 
thorne buili, my thorne bufh ; and this dog, my dog. 

2" moufe, F ^iSnow, F here F ^w ^yon rough, FR rage, F 
220 one] as FR 221^^53 Lyon FR Lyons damme FR :]. F , R 
222 For, F fhould, FR Lyon, F Lyon R ftrife, FR 223 t'were R 
-tyFR of]onFR 224very FR 225 very FR 2213 Lyon FR very FR 
fox, F -our FR 227 ^] ; p 228 .]. pR .our FR -ry FR 229^]. p ; R 
230-tion, F fure, F -ry FR -our FR .]: FR 231.]. p 232 hearken] 
liftenF 234 homes, F 235HeFR 23Tpi.efent,/My FR 2D8ithF 
ith' R Moone, F doth] doe F do R 239 .our F 240eife PR 24iith F 
242 there, F candle. For/you F 244 aweary F weary R ;]. F hee 
woulde F 246 appeares, F fmall FR 247 hee FR cur- FR wee F 
2'49-ceede, F 251 .]^p i the F m the] ith F ;], F 252 ^j^^^^. p j], pR 
dogge my dogge F 



V. I. 253-288.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 57 

Dem. Why all thefe ftiould be in the Lanthorne : for 
they are in the Moone. But filence, heere comes Thisby. 

E^iter Thisby. 

Thif. This is old Ninnies tombe : where is my loue ? 255 
Lyon. Oh. 

The Lion roares, Thisby runs off. 
Dem. Well roar'd Lion. 

Du. Well run Thisby. [1632] 

Diet. Well Ihone Moone. 
Truly the Moone fliines with a good grace. 260 

Du. Wei mouz'd Lion. 
Dejn. And then came Piramus. 
Lyf. And fo the Lion vanifht. 

Enter Piramus. 

Pyr. Sweet Moone, I thank thee for thy funny beames, 
I thanke thee Moone, for fhining now fo bright: 265 

For by thy gracious, golden, glittering beames, 
I truft to tafte of truefl: Thisbies fight. 
But flay : O fpight ! but marke, poore Knight, 
What dreadful dole is heere ? 270 

Eyes do you fee ! How can it be ! 
O dainty Ducke : O Deere ! 

Thy mantle good ; what flaind with blood ! 275 

Approch you Furies fell : 
O Fates ! come, come : Cut thred and thrum, 
Quaile, crufh, conclude, and quell. 

Dzi. This paffion, and the death of a deare friend, 280 

Would go neere to make a man looke fad. 

Dut. Befhrew my heart, but I pittie the man. 

Pir. O wherefore Nature, did'fl thou Lions frame ? 
Since Lion vilde hath heere deflour'd my deere : 
Which is : no, no, which was the fairefl Dame 285 

That liu'd, that lou'd, that lik'd, that look'd with cheere. 
Come teares, confound : Out fword, and wound 

253 Why ? F bee F 254 they] all thefe F ,]: F here F ssSquM F 
Nmies FR tumbe. F toomb : R wher's R loue? Zjj/ow. Oh./ FR 
256 .],?;«. R The Lion roares, Thif by runs offi\ om. FR 257 FR59 roard, F 
roard R Lyon FR 258runne, F runne R -bie R 259 Well . . . fhines,/ FR 
fhoone R 250 True- R -ly, F Ihmes, F 26i Well FR mouz'd, F 
Lyon FR '^^'^ Pyr-Y 253 Lyon FR Pyr-Y 264Sweete FR thanke 
thee, F beams. F 265 thee, F :]. FR 266gratiousF 267 tafte] take FR 
-byY -bieV. 270.fuii pR here FR 272 ^geF 273 duck F :], FR 
deare FR 274 .]^ pR 275 ^hat, F 276 Approach ye FR :], FR 
2" !]^;;2. FR .], FR 278 thread and thrummeF 280friend would /goe FR 
282BeftireweF -ty FR 283 q, wherefore, F didft FR Lyons FR 
28* Lyon FR here F :]. F ; R 2S5 .]^ fR no, no : F 286iik't FR 

look'tFR 287J^^2. R .J^FR 288J^^„. R 



58 A Midfommer nights Dreame. [V. i. 289-334. 

The pap of Piramus : 

I, that left pap, where heart doth hop ; 290 

Thus dye I, thus, thus, thus. 

Now am I dead, now am I fled, my foule is in the sky, 295 

Tongue lofe thy light, Moone take thy flight. 

Now dye, dye, dye, dye, dye. 

Dem. No Die, but an ace for him ; for he is but one. 

Lif. Leffe then an ace man. For he is dead, he is no- 300 
thing. 

Du. With the helpe of a Surgeon, he might yet reco- 
uer, and proue an Affe. 

JDut. How chance Moone-fhine is gone before ? 
Thisby comes backe, and findes her Louer. 305 

Ejiter Thisby. 

Duke. She wil finde him by llarre-light. 

Heere Ihe comes, and her paffion ends the play. 

Diit. Me thinkes flaee fliould not vfe a long one for 

fuch a Piramus : I hope fhe will be breefe. 

De77i. A Moth wil turne the ballance, which Pij'amics 310 

which Thisby is the better. (eyes. 

Lyf. She hath fpyed him already, with thofe fweete 
Dei7i. And thus flie meanes, videlicit. 315 

This. Afleepe my Loue ? What, dead my Doue ? 

O Pirmmis arife : 

Speake, Speake. Quite dumbe? Dead, dead? A tombe 

Mufl couer thy fweet eyes. 

Thefe Lilly Lips, this cherry nofe, 320 

Thefe yellow Cowflip cheekes 

Are gone, are gone : Louers make mone : 

His eyes were greene as Leekes. 325 

O fiflers three, come, come to mee, 

With hands as pale as Milke, 

Lay them in gore, fince you haue fliore 330 

With flieeres, his thred of filke. 

, Tongue not a word : Come trufty fword : 

Come blade, my brefl imbrue : 

289pappe F Pyr- FR 290pappe F 29ihoppe. F 252 dy F die R 
295 foule, R ,]. F 296ioofe F 298 dy, dy, dy, dy, dy. F 299 .]. f 330 pRGO 
ace, F 303^]^,„ R and yet prooue F ^J* before? Thif by/comes F 
^^^ Enter ThifbyP^om. FR 336 shee . . . fhee/ F She . . . comes,/ R 
will FR him, F ftar- R 307 Here FR s^^ ^e-thinkes R -kes, F Ihe FR 
one, F sia/'jj/r-F hope, F briefe FR siOwill FR ,]; F Pyr-Y 
-mtis, FR 311 -bie R better.] better : he (hee R) for a man ; (, R) God 
warnd us : (; R) fhe, {^om. R) for a woman ; (, R) God bleffe vs. FR 
3i2fpiedFR eies R ^'^'^ videlicet ; Y swAfleepeF ^^^ Pyravms,^ 
:], FR 318 tumbe F toombe R 3i9 fweete FR eies R ^20 ijppes F 
322.flippe F 323 gon, are gon F :]; R 325 greene, F 327 come, to F 
meR 33ithreedeF 332 Tongue, F word, R 333 .]^ pR ssibreafl 
imbrew FR 



V. 1. 335-372.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 59 

And farwell friends, thus Thishie ends ; 335 [162^] 

Adieu, adieu, adieu. 

Duk. Moon-fhine & Lion are left to burie the dead. 

Deme. I, and Wall too. 

Bot. No, I affure you, the wall is downe, that parted 340 
their Fathers. Will it pleafe you to fee the Epilogue, or 
to heare a Bergomask dance, betweene two of our com- 
pany ? 

Duk. No Epilogue, I pray you ; for your play needs 
no excufe. Neuer excufe ; for when the plaiers are all 345 
dead, there need none to be blamed. Marry, if hee that 
writ it had plaid Piramus, and hung himfelfe in Thisbies 
garter, it would haue beene a fine Tragedy : and fo it is 
truely, and very notably difcharg'd. But come, your 
Burgomaske ; let your Epilogue alone. 350 

The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelue. 
Louers to bed, 'tis almoll Fairy time. 
I feare we fliall out-fleepe the comming morne, 
As much as we this night haue ouer-watcht. 
This palpable groffe play hath well beguil'd 355 

The heauy gate of night. Sweet friends to bed. 
A fortnight hold we this folemnity. 
In nightly Reuels ; and new ioilitie. Exemit. 

Enter Pucke. 

Puck Now the hungry Lyons rores, 
And the Wolfe beholds the Moone : 360 

Whileft the heauy ploughman fnores, 
All with weary taske fore-done. 
Now the wafted brands doe glow, 
Whil'ft the fcritch-owle, fcritching loud, 

Puts the wretch that lies in woe, 365 

In remembrance of a Ihrowd. 
Now it is the time of night, 
That the graues, all gaping wide, 
Euery one lets forth his fpright. 

In the Church-way paths to glide. 370 

And we Fairies, that do runne, 
By the triple Hecates teame, 

335 farewell F ,]: F 336 Thy/by ends : F 338 Moone- FR Lyon FR 
bury FR to F ^'^^ Bot :\ Lyon. FR you the R 34iyou, F ^^ -m2Sk.Q 
daunce, between F SiijTRgl ;]. F 3*5 .]. p players FR 346deade F 
neede F Mary F he R 347 jt, p played F Pyr- F hangd F hang'd R 
349 come your F 350.].^ ssitolde FR 352tis pR 353.]^^. p 354 ^eeF 
-ym.Y 356.uieP Sweete friends, F s57holde F -tie F .], FR 
35S;], PR -tyFR 359roares. F 360.]. pR 36iwhilftFR -uie F 
362 foredoone F 363 do R glowe F 364 Whilft FR fcriech- F fcriech- 
ing lowd F 365 wretch, F lyes F 366fhrowde F '^'^'^-'[om. FR 37i ^ee F ■ 
doe F runnne R 



6o A Midfommer nights Dreame. [V, i. 373-410. 

From the prefence of the Sunne, 

Following darkeneffe like a dreame, 

Now are frollicke ; not a Moufe 375 

Shall difturbe this hallowed houfe. 

I am fent with broome before, 

To fweep the dufl behinde the doore. 

Ente7' King and Qiieene of Fairies, with their traine. 

Ob. Through the houfe giue glimmering light, 
By the dead and drowfie fier, 380 [1622] 

Euerie Elfe and Fairie fpright. 
Hop as light as bird from brier, 
And this Ditty after me, fing and dance it trippinglie. 

Tita. Firft rehearfe this fong by roate, 385 

To each word a warbling note. 
Hand in hand, with Fairie grace, 
Will we fmg and bleffe this place. 

The Song. 

Now vntill the breake of day, 
Through this hoife each Fairy flray. 390 

To the befl Bride-bed will we. 
Which by vs fJiall blejjed be : 
And the ijfue there create, 
Euerfliall be fortunate : 

So fJiall all the couples three, 395 

Fuer true hi louing be : 
And the blots of Natures hand, 
Shall not in their iffuefland. 
Neuer mole, harelip, norfcarre. 
Nor marke prodigious, fuch as are 400 

Defpifed in Natiuitie, 
Shall vpon their children be. 
With this field dew confecrate, 
Euery Fairy take his gate, 

And each feuerall chamber bleffe, 405 

Through this Pallace with fweet peace, 
EuerfJiall infafety reft, 
And the owner of it blefl. 
Trip away, make no flay ; 
Meet me all by breake of day. 410 

874 darkneffe R 375 .^ck : F s'^^ fent, F broome, F s™ FR62 
fweepe FR duft, F dore F their'\all their Y^ s^igueryFR Fairy FR 
882birde F 333 .tie F mee F ssising, F daunce F -ly FR 385 this] 
your F rote F 387 .j-y FR grace ; R sss The Sons;:\ om. FR 389 j^/o-J^ 
Ob. Now FR Now, F 39o houfe, FR 89i bride bed F wee : F 393iffue, F 
895,>»i!. F ^^\'\om.Y 399 hare-lippe F hare-lip R *oi-ty R *33deaw F 
406 palace, FR fweete FR ^o^Trippe F ,]: F ;]: F *iOMeeteFR 
all, FR day-l day. Exeuni. FR 



V. I. 411-426.] A Midfommer nights Dreame. 61 

Robin. If we fhadowes haue offended, 
Thinke but this (and all is mended) 
That you haue but flumbred heere, 
While thefe vifions did appeare. 
And this weake and idle theame, 
No more yeelding but a dreame, 
Centles, doe not reprehend. 
If you pardon, we will mend. 
And as I am an honefl Pucke, 
If we haue vnearned lucke, 
Now to fcape the Serpents tongue, 
We will make amends ere long : 
Elfe the Pucke a lyar call. 
So good night vnto you all. 

Giue me your hands, if we be friends, 4215 

And Robin fhall reftore amends. 

FINIS. 

«3FR63 hereF «* thefe] this R «6 yield- F *" Gentles FR 
doR 418 wee F «9And, F PtickY *20]uck F ^22 amends F 
423 Elfe, F /'«^>6aIyerF 424 So, F 425 friends :F amends, l- 



415 



420 



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